"Because they are those of my wife," replied Dubois.——"Of your wife!"
"Yes; of my wife, who has just arrived from Paris, and of whom I am jealous, I warn you."
"Diable," murmured Gaston; "he must be the husband of the person to whom Helene has been given in charge;" and in order to conciliate a person who might be useful to him—
"Monsieur," said he politely, "in that case I am willing to leave a place where I was walking without any object in view."
"Oh," thought Dubois, "here is a polite conspirator; I must have a quarrel."
Gaston was going away.
"You are deceiving me, monsieur," said Dubois.
The chevalier turned as though he had been bitten by a serpent; however, prudent for the sake of Helene, and for the mission he had undertaken, he restrained himself.
"Is it," said he, "because I was polite that you disbelieve my word?"
"You spoke politely because you were afraid; but it is none the less true that I saw you looking at that window."