“Must we?” she said. “So you have made up your mind to go?”
“To Arles, yes,” I answered. “The prospect of this smell and Carabas combined is more than I can face.”
“But he will be certain to accompany us!”
“There is room to breathe in Arles.”
“Felix, how absurd you are!”
“Honestly, m’amie,” said I gravely, “I could not take the responsibility of recommending you this place for a stay. It was spring when I was here before. I had not guessed its possibilities. If you please, you must come with me—unless——” I looked significantly at M. Carabas Cabarus, where he stood haughtily aside.
“If you dare to say another word,” said Fifine, in a low voice, “I will never speak to you again.”
CHAPTER XIV
M. Cabarus accompanied us. We had to change trains at Aimargues, and did not reach Arles until long after sunset. He and Fifine had chatted most of the way together, ostentatiously, on her part, to my exclusion. At Arles, I helped M. Cabarus to shoulder his knapsack, a service for which he returned me a rather frigid acknowledgment.
“Our quarters,” I said to him, “will be at the Hôtel du Nord Pinus. It will afford us much pleasure if you decide to make yours there too.”