"Now," he went on as he sat down, "I can execute my commission
comfortably. A little while ago Mlle. Marguerite, in a thoughtless
moment, gave you some instructions which most assuredly did not come
within your province. Very properly, your susceptibility was aroused, we
quite recognise that, and now the ladies charge me to beg that you will
accept their regrets. They would be in despair if the misconception of
a moment could deprive them of your good offices, which they value
extremely, and put an end to relations which they esteem most highly.
Speaking for myself, I have this evening acquired the right to add my
entreaties to those of the ladies. Something I have long desired has
been granted me, and I shall be personally indebted to you if you will
prevent the happy memories of this day from being marred by a separation
which would be at once disadvantageous and painful to the family into
which I shall shortly enter."
"M. de Bevallan," I said, "I fully recognise and appreciate all that you
have said on behalf of the ladies, as well as on your own account. You
will excuse me from giving a final answer immediately. This is a matter
which requires more judicial consideration than I can give it at
present.
"At least," said M. de Bevallan, "you will let me take back a hopeful
report. Come, M. Odiot, since we have the opportunity, let us break
through the barrier of ice that has kept us apart till now. As far as I
am concerned, I am quite willing. In the first place, Mme. Laroque,
without revealing a secret that does not belong to her, has given me to
understand that under the kind of mystery with which you surround
yourself, there are circumstances which reflect the highest credit on
you. And, besides, I have a private reason for being grateful to you.
I know that you have lately been consulted in reference to my intentions
towards Mlle. Laroque, and that I have cause to congratulate myself on
your opinion."
"My dear sir, I do not think I deserve----"
"Oh, I know!" he continued, laughing. "You didn't praise me up to the
skies, but, at all events, you did me no harm. And I admit that you
showed real insight. You said that though Mlle. Marguerite might not be
absolutely happy with me, she would not be unhappy. Well, the prophet
Daniel could not have spoken better. The truth is, the dear child will
never be absolutely happy with any one, because she will not find in the
whole world a husband who will talk poetry to her from morning to
night.... They're not to be had. I am no more capable of it than any
one else, I own; but--as you were good enough to say--I am an honourable
man. And really, when we know one another better, you will be convinced
of it. I am not a brute; I am a good fellow. God knows I have faults
... one especially: I am fond of pretty women.... I am, I can't deny
it. But what does it matter? It shows that one has a good heart.
Besides, here I am in port ... and I am delighted, because--between
ourselves--I was getting into a bit of a mess. In short, I mean only to
think about my wife and children in future. So, like you, I believe
Marguerite will be perfectly happy--that is to say, as far as she could
be in this world with ideas like hers. For, after all, I shall be good
to her; I shall refuse her nothing, and I shall do even more than she
desires. But if she asks me for the moon and the stars, I can't go and
fetch them to please her ... that's not possible.... And now, my dear
friend, your hand once more."