Милий друг

           "Wherecanwemeetagain?"heasked.

           "AtRuedeConstantinople."

           "Ah,aretheapartmentsnotrented?"

           "No,Ikeptthem."

           "Youdid?"

           "Yes,Ithoughtyouwouldreturn."

           Hisheartboundedjoyfully.Shelovedhimthenwithalastinglove!Hewhispered:"Iadoreyou."Thenheasked:"Isyourhusbandwell?"

           "Yes,verywell.Hehasjustbeenhomeforamonth;hewentawaythedaybeforeyesterday."

           DuRoycouldnotsuppressasmile:"Howopportunelythatalwayshappens!"

           Sherepliednaively:"Yes,ithappensopportunely,butheisnotinthewaywhenheishere;ishe?"

           "Thatistrue;heisacharmingman!"

           "Howdoyoulikeyournewlife?"

           "Tolerably;mywifeisacomrade,anassociate,nothingmore;asformyheart—"

           "Iunderstand;butsheisgood."

           "Yes,shedoesnottroubleme."

           HedrewnearClotildeandmurmured:"Whenshallwemeetagain?"

           "To-morrow,ifyouwill."

           "Yes,to-morrowattwoo’clock."

           Herosetotakehisleavesomewhatembarrassed.

           "YouknowIintendtotakebacktheroomsonRuedeConstantinoplemyself.Iwishto;itisnotnecessaryforyoutopayforthem."

           Shekissedhishands,saying:"Youmaydoasyoulike.