"It is possible to return from there, as you see. Three days ago I
arrived in Paris and flew to Maisons-Lafitte. Mme. De Lorcy, who bears
the double insignia of honour of being my aunt and the godmother of
Antoinette--I beg your pardon, I mean Mlle. Antoinette Moriaz--informed
me that you were in ill-health, and that your physician had sent you
to Switzerland, to Saint Moritz, to recruit. I hastened after you; this
morning I missed you by one hour at Zurich; but I have you now, and you
will listen to me."

"I warn you, my dear child, that I am at this moment a most detestable
auditor. We have done to-day one _hotel de ville_, one episcopal palace,
one cathedral, and some relics of St. Lucius. To speak plainly, I am
overpowered with sleep. Is there any great haste for what you have to
say to me?"

"Is there any great haste? Why, I arrive breathless from Hungary to
demand your daughter in marriage."

M. Moriaz threw up his arms; then, seating himself on the edge of his
bed, he piteously gasped:

"You could not wait until to-morrow? If a judge is desired to take a
favourable view of a case, he surely should not be disturbed in his
first sleep to consider it."

"My dear master, I am truly distressed to be compelled to be
disagreeable to you, but it is absolutely necessary that you should
listen to me. Two years ago, for the first time, I asked of you your
daughter's hand. After having consulted Antoinette--you will permit me
to call her Antoinette, will you not?--after having consulted her, you