“Ah, if you were willing!”
“Very well. Go and speak of it to your father.”
“I suppose—”
“You don’t suppose any thing at all: you are absolutely certain that he will refuse you his consent.”
“I could do without it.”
“I admit that you could. But do you know what he would do then? He would arrange things in such a way that you would never get a centime of his fortune.”
Maxence had never thought of that.
“Therefore,” the young girl went on gayly, “though there is as yet no question of marriage, learn to secure your independence; that is, the means of living. And to that effect let us work.”
It was from that moment, that Mme. Favoral had noticed in her son the change that had surprised her so much.
Under the inspiration, under the impulsion, of Mlle. Lucienne, Maxence had been suddenly taken with a zeal for work, and a desire to earn money, of which he could not have been suspected.