They walked on side by side for about a hundred yards. The stranger, who seemed to know her, had glanced at her with a good-natured smile; but as she hurried on, trying to hide her embarrassment by looking very grave, he remained silent. She opened the door and showed the visitor into the studio, exclaiming:
‘Claude, here is somebody for you.’
Then a loud cry rang out; the two men were already in each other’s arms.
‘Oh, my good old Pierre! how kind of you to come! And Dubuche?’
‘He was prevented at the last moment by some business, and he sent me a telegram to go without him.’
‘All right, I half expected it; but you are here. By the thunder of heaven, I am glad!’
And, turning towards Christine, who was smiling, sharing their delight:
‘It’s true, I didn’t tell you. But the other day I met Dubuche, who was going up yonder, to the place where those monsters live—’
But he stopped short again, and then with a wild gesture shouted:
‘I’m losing my wits, upon my word. You have never spoken to each other, and I leave you there like that. My dear, you see this gentleman? He’s my old chum, Pierre Sandoz, whom I love like a brother. And you, my boy; let me introduce my wife. And you have got to give each other a kiss.’