“My friend, listen: when one has the luck to possess a wife like mine—marriage is an earthly Paradise. Hurry up and marry!”
Méjean shook his head without answering.
“How now? Isn’t your affair prospering?”
“I fear not. Mme. Roumestan promised to sound her sister for me, but as she has never said anything more—”
“Don’t you want me to manage it for you? I get on splendidly with my little sister-in-law.... I bet you I can make her decide....”
There was still a little vervain left in the teapot, and as he poured out a fresh cup Roumestan overflowed with protestations to his first secretary. “Ah! no, success had not altered him; as always, Méjean was his best, his chosen friend! Between him and Rosalie he indeed felt himself stronger and more complete....
“O, my friend, that woman, that woman—if you only knew what her goodness is! how noble and forgiving! When I think that I was capable of—”
Positively it was with difficulty that he restrained himself from launching the confidence that rose to his lips along with a heavy sigh. “If I did not love her, I should be guilty indeed.”
Baron de Lappara came in quickly and whispered with a mysterious air:
“Mlle. Bachellery is here.”