remain a moment longer. M. de la Gueritude will be here at once. He
loves me with an impatience which continually runs ahead of the
meeting time."

Reading in my face how upset I was by this saying she spoke again
with a quick vivacity:

"Listen, Jacques, he returns every night at nine to his old woman,
who shrewish by age, cannot bear his infidelities since she herself
is unable to pay him in the same coin and has become awfully
jealous. Come to-night at half-past nine. I'll receive you. My house
is at the corner of the Rue du Bac. You'll recognise it by its three
windows on every floor and by its balcony covered with roses; you
know I always did like flowers. Good-bye till to-night."

Caressingly she pushed me back, hardly able to hide the wish to keep
me with her, then placing one finger over her mouth she whispered
again:

"Till to-night."




CHAPTER XIII

Taken by M. d'Asterac to the Isle of Swans I listen to his Discourse
on Creation and Salamanders.