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And what a relief； with a cry of delight； they see their friend Paul come in！
〃Quick！ quick！ Come and let us tell you the good news。〃
He knew well； before any of them； that the play had been accepted。 He had had a good deal of trouble to get it read by Cardailhac； who； the moment he saw its 〃short lines；〃 as he called verse； wished to send the manuscript to the Levantine and her /masseur/； as he was wont to do in the case of all beginners in the writing of drama。 But Paul was careful not to refer to his own intervention。 As for the other event； the one of which nothing was said； on account of the children； he guessed it easily by the trembling greeting of Maranne； whose fair mane was standing straight up over his forehead by reason of the poet's two hands having been pushed through it so many times； a thing he always did in his moments of joy； by the slightly embarrassed demeanour of Elise； by the triumphant airs of M。 Joyeuse； who was standing very erect in his new summer clothes； with all the happiness of his children written on his face。
Bonne Maman alone preserved her usual peaceful air； but one noticed； in the eager alacrity with which she forestalled her sister's wants； a certain attention still more tender than before； an anxiety to make her look pretty。 And it was delicious to watch the girl of twenty as she busied herself about the adornment of others； without envy； without regret； with something of the gentle renunciation of a mother welcoming the young love of her daughter in memory of a happiness gone by。 Paul saw this； he was the only one who did see it； but while admiring Aline； he asked himself sadly if in that maternal heart there would ever be place for other affections； for preoccupations outside the tranquil and bright circle wherein Bonne Maman presided so prettily over the evening work。
Love is； as one knows； a poor blind creature； deprived of hearing and speech； and only led by presentiments； divinations； the nervous faculties of a sick man。 It is pitiable indeed to see him wandering； feeling his way； constantly making false steps； passing his hands over the supports by which he guides himself with the distrustful awkwardness of the infirm。 At the very moment when Paul was doubting Aline's sensibility； in announcing to his friends that he was about to start on a journey which would occupy several days； perhaps several weeks； did not remark the girl's sudden paleness； did not hear the distressed cry that escaped her lips：
〃You are going away？〃
He was going away； going to Tunis； very much troubled at leaving his poor Nabob in the midst of the pack of furious wolves that surrounded him。 Mora's protection； however； gave him some reassurance； and then； the journey in question was absolutely necessary。
〃And the Territorial？〃 asked the old accountant； ever returning to the subject in his mind。 〃How are things standing there？ I see Jansoulet's name still at the head of the board。 You cannot get him out； then； from that Ali…Baba's cave？ Take caretake care！〃
〃Ah； I know all about that； M。 Joyeuse。 But； to leave it with honour； money is needed； much money； a fresh sacrifice of two or three millions； and we have not got them。 That is exactly the reason why I am going to Tunis to try to wrest from the rapacity of the Bey a slice of that great fortune which he is retaining in his possession so unjustly。 At present I have still some chance of succeeding； while later on； perhaps〃
〃Go； then； and make haste； my dear lad； and if you return； as I wish you may； with a heavy bag； see that you deal first of all with the Paganetti gang。 Remember that one shareholder less patient than the rest has the power to smash the whole thing up； to demand an inquiry； and you know what the inquiry would reveal。 Now I come to think of it；〃 added M。 Joyeuse； whose brow had contracted a frown； 〃I am even surprised that Hemerlingue； in his hatred for you； has not secretly brought up a few shares。〃
He was interrupted by the chorus of imprecations which the name of Hemerlingue raised from all the young people； who detested the fat banker for the injury he had done their father； and for the ill…will he bore that good Nabob； who was adored in the house through Paul de Gery。
〃Hemerlingue； the heartless monster！ Wretch！ That wicked man！〃
But amid all these exclamations； the Visionary was following up his idea of the fat baron becoming a shareholder in the Territorial for the purpose of dragging his enemy into the courts。 And you may imagine the stupefaction of Andre Maranne； a complete stranger to the whole affair； when he saw M。 Joyeuse turn to him； and； with face purple and swollen with rage； point his finger at him； with these terrible words：
〃The greatest rascal； after all； in this affair； is you； sir！〃
〃Oh； papa； papa！ what are you saying？〃
〃Eh； what？ Ah； forgive me； my dear Andre。 I was fancying myself in the examining magistrate's private room； face to face with that rogue。 It is my confounded brain that is always running away with me。〃
All broke into uproarious laughter； which escaped into the outer air through the open windows； and went to mingle with the thousand noises of moving vehicles and people in their Sunday clothes going up the Avenue des Ternes。 The author of /Revolt/ took advantage of the diversion to ask whether they were not soon going to start。 It was latethe good places would be taken in the Bois。
〃To the Bois de Boulogne； on Sunday！〃 exclaimed Paul de Gery。
〃Oh； our Bois is not yours；〃 replied Aline with a smile。 〃Come with us； and you will see。〃
Did it ever happen to you； in the course of a solitary and contemplative walk； to lie down on your face in the undergrowth of a forest； amid that vegetation which springs up； various and manifold； through the fallen autumn leaves； and allow your eyes to wander along the level of the ground before you？ Little by little the sense of height is lost； the interwoven branches of the oaks above your head form an inaccessible sky； and you behold a new forest extending beneath the other； opening its deep avenues filled by a green and mysterious light； and formed of tiny shrubs or root fibres taking the appearance of the stems of sugar…canes； of severely graceful palm… trees； of delicate cups containing a drop of water； of many…branched candlesticks bearing little yellow lights which the wind blows on as it passes。 And the miraculous thing is； that beneath these light shadows live minute plants and thousand of insects whose existence； observed from so near at hand； is a revelation to you of all the mysteries。 An ant； bending like a wood…cutter under his burden； drags after it a splinter of bark bigger than itself； a beetle makes its way along a blade of grass thrown like a bridge from one stem to another； while beneath a lofty bracken standing isolated in the middle of a patch of velvety moss； a little blue or red insect waits； with antennae at attention； for another little insect on its way through some desert path over there to arrive at the trysting…place beneath the giant tree。 It is a small forest beneath a great one； too near the soil to be noticed by its big neighbours； too humble； too hidden to be reached by its great orchestra of