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Felix did not answer。 He saw Brigitte entering the salon from the
dining…room where she had gone to tell the man…servant not to bring in
more trays； and he hurried to greet her。
After listening to a few reproaches for the rarity of his visits and
receiving forgiveness in a very cordial 〃Better late than never；〃 he
turned towards his pole； and was much astonished to hear himself
addressed by Madame de Godollo as follows：
〃Monsieur；〃 she said； 〃I hope you will pardon the indiscretion I have；
in the heat of conversation； committed about you。 I have told these
ladies where I met you this morning。〃
〃Met me？〃 said Felix； 〃if I had the honor to meet you； madame； I did
not see you。〃
An almost imperceptible smile flickered on la Peyrade's lips。
〃You saw me well enough to ask me to keep silence as to where I had
met you； but； at any rate； I did not go beyond a simple statement； I
said you saw Pere Anselme sometimes； and had certain scientific
relations with him； also that you defended your religious doubts to
him as you do to Celeste。〃
〃Pere Anselme！〃 said Felix； stupidly。
〃Yes； Pere Anselme；〃 said la Peyrade； 〃a great mathematician who does
not despair of converting you。 Mademoiselle Celeste wept for joy。〃
Felix looked around him with a bewildered air。 Madame de Godollo fixed
upon him a pair of eyes the language of which a poodle could have
understood。
〃I wish；〃 he said finally； 〃I could have given that joy to
Mademoiselle Celeste； but I think； madame； you are mistaken。〃
〃Ah！ monsieur； then I must be more precise；〃 said the countess； 〃and
if your modesty still induces you to hide a step that can only honor
you； you can contradict me； I will bear the mortification of having
divulged a secret which； I acknowledge； you trusted implicitly to my
discretion。〃
Madame Thuillier and Celeste were truly a whole drama to behold； never
were doubt and eager expectation more plainly depicted on the human
face。 Measuring her words deliberately； Madame de Godollo thus
continued：
〃I said to these ladies； because I know how deep an interest they take
in your salvation； and because you are accused of boldly defying the
commandments of God by working on Sundays； that I had met you this
morning at the house of Pere Anselme； a mathematician like yourself；
with whom you were busy in solving a problem； I said that your
scientific intercourse with that saintly and enlightened man had led
to other explanations between you； that you had submitted to him your
religious doubts； and he did not despair of removing them。 In the
confirmation you can give of my words there is nothing； I am sure； to
wound your self…esteem。 The matter was simply a surprise you intended
for Celeste； and I have had the stupidity to divulge it。 But when she
hears you admit the truth of my words you will have given her such
happiness that I shall hope to be forgiven。〃
〃Come； monsieur；〃 said la Peyrade； 〃there's nothing absurd or
mortifying in having sought for light； you； so honorable and so truly
an enemy to falsehood； you cannot deny what madame affirms with such
decision。〃
〃Well；〃 said Felix； after a moment's hesitation； 〃will you；
Mademoiselle Celeste； allow me to say a few words to you in private；
without witnesses？〃
Celeste rose； after receiving an approving sign from Madame Thuillier。
Felix took her hand and led her to the recess of the nearest window。
〃Celeste；〃 he said； 〃I entreat you： wait！ See；〃 he added； pointing to
the constellation of Ursa Minor； 〃beyond those visible stars a future
lies before us； I will place you there。 As for Pere Anselme； I cannot
admit what has been said； for it is not true。 It is an invented tale。
But be patient with me； you shall soon know all。〃
〃He is mad！〃 said the young girl； in tones of despair； as she resumed
her place beside Madame Thuillier。
Felix confirmed this judgment by rushing frantically from the salon；
without perceiving the emotion in which his father and his mother
started after him。 After this sudden departure； which stupefied
everybody； la Peyrade approached Madame de Godollo very respectfully；
and said to her：
〃You must admit； madame； that it is difficult to drag a man from the
water when he persists in being drowned。〃
〃I had no idea until this moment of such utter simplicity；〃 replied
the countess； 〃it is too silly。 I pass over to the enemy； and with
that enemy I am ready and desirous to have； whenever he pleases； a
frank and honest explanation。〃
CHAPTER IV
HUNGARY VERSUS PROVENCE
The next day Theodose felt himself possessed by two curiosities： How
would Celeste behave as to the option she had accepted？ and this
Comtesse Torna de Godollo； what did she mean by what she had said； and
what did she want with him？
The first of these questions seemed； undoubtedly； to have the right of
way； and yet； by some secret instinct； la Peyrade felt more keenly
drawn toward the conclusion of the second problem。 He decided；
therefore； to take his first step in that direction； fully
understanding that he could not too carefully arm himself for the
interview to which the countess had invited him。
The morning had been rainy； and this great calculator was； of course；
not ignorant how much a spot of mud； tarnishing the brilliancy of
varnished boots； could lower a man in the opinion of some。 He
therefore sent his porter for a cabriolet； and about three o'clock in
the afternoon he drove from the rue Saint…Dominique d'Enfer toward the
elegant latitudes of the Madeleine。 It may well be believed that
certain cares had been bestowed upon his toilet； which ought to
present a happy medium between the negligent ease of a morning costume
and the ceremonious character of an evening suit。 Condemned by his
profession to a white cravat； which he rarely laid aside； and not
venturing to present himself in anything but a dress…coat； he felt
himself being drawn； of necessity； to one of the extremes he desired
to avoid。 However by buttoning up his coat and wearing tan instead of
straw…colored gloves； he managed to UNSOLEMNIZE himself； and to avoid
that provincial air which a man in full dress walking the streets of
Paris while the sun is above the horizon never fails to convey。
The wary diplomatist was careful not to drive to the house where he
was going。 He was unwilling to be seen from the countess' entresol
issuing from a hired cab； and from the first floor he feared to be
discovered stopping short on his way up at the lower floor；a
proceeding which could not fail to give rise to countless conjectures。
He therefore ordered the driver to pull up at the corner of the rue
Royale； whence； along a pavement that was now nearly dry； he picked
his way on tiptoe to the house。 It so chanced that he was not seen by
either the porter or his wife； the former being beadle of the church
of the Madeleine； was absent at a service； and the wife had just gone
up to show a vacant apartment to a lodger。 Theodose was therefore able
to glide unobserved to the door of the sanctuary he desired to
penetrate。 A soft touch of his hand to the silken bell…rope caused a
sound which echoed from the interior of the apartment。 A few secon