"What! are you going? Ah! certainly the news is excellent, as well as unexpected; but you are giving yourself unnecessary trouble, there was no need to forewarn me.Your departure! Great God! Ishould have been notified of it in advance by the clearness of the air, by the more vivid brightness of the sun, by some strange joy diffused through all my being.Oh! I understand, you are not able to digest the outrage done to you by the excellent Fritz at my order.You consider the reparation insufficient.You are right, Iswear it by St.George, my heart made no apologies to you.I upon my knees to you! Horror and misery! As I told you yesterday, Iyielded only to force.It was the same as if I should make my bulldog drag you down at my feet now!"Gilbert made no answer; he contented himself with drawing from his pocketbook the letter which he had written the day before, and presenting it to Stephane.
"What have I to do with this paper?" said Stephane with a gesture of disdain."You have told me your news, that is sufficient for me.Anything more you could add would spoil my happiness.""Read!" said Gilbert."I have granted you such a great favor that you can well afford to grant me a small one."--Stephane hesitated a moment, but the habitual tediousness of his life was so great that the want of diversion overcame his hatred and scorn.
"This letter is not bad!" said he as he read."Its style is eloquent, the penmanship is admirable too.It involuntarily suggests to me the tie of your cravat.Both are so correct that they are insufferable."Gilbert, smiling, untied the cravat and let the ends hang down upon his vest.
"It is not worth while to incommode yourself," pursued Stephane, "we have so short a time to live together! Pray do not renounce your most cherished habits for me.The bow of your cravat as well as your writing, harmonize wonderfully with your whole person.Ido not suppose, however, that to please me you would reconstruct yourself from head to foot.The undertaking would be considerable.""Permit me to speak," answered Gilbert."I have made a little change in my programme: I shall not leave tomorrow.I have granted myself a week's delay."Stephane's face darkened, and his eyes flashed.
