At this moment M. Morin came in, his wife introduced me, and after the
customary compliments had passed, she returned to the subject of the
horoscope. The barrister sensibly observed that if judicial astrology was
not wholly false, it was, nevertheless, a suspected science; that he had
been so foolish as once to devote a considerable portion of his time to
it, but that on recognizing the inability of man to deal with the future
he had abandoned astrology, contenting himself with the veritable truths
of astronomy. I saw with pleasure that I had to deal with a man of sense
and education, but Valenglard, who was a believer in astrology, began an
argument with him on the subject. During their discussion I quietly
copied out on my tablets the date of Mdlle. Morin's birth. But M. Morin
saw what I was about, and shook his head at me, with a smile. I
understood what he meant, but I did not allow that to disconcert me, as I
had made up my mind fully five minutes ago that I would play the
astrologer on this occasion.

At last the fair niece arrived. Her aunt introduced me to her as Mdlle.
Roman Coupier, her sister's daughter; and then, turning to her, she
informed her how ardently I had been longing to know her since I had seen
her at the concert.

She was then seventeen. Her satin skin by its dazzling whiteness
displayed to greater advantage her magnificent black hair. Her features
were perfectly regular, and her complexion had a slight tinge of red; her
fine eyes were at once sweet and sparkling, her eyebrows were well
arched, her mouth small, her teeth regular and as white as pearls, and
her lips, of an exquisite rosy hue, afforded a seat to the deities of
grace and modesty.

After some moments' conversation, M. Morin was obliged to go out on