The footman grinned in a jocular and embarrassed manner. At length he declared, as he looked down at the toes of his boots:
“I daresay, I don’t say the contrary; but I’m already married.”
This answer put a stop to all the priest’s moral preaching. Without adding a word, he folded up his arguments, and put religion, now become useless, back into his pocket, deeply regretting ever having risked it in such a disgraceful matter. Clotilde, who rejoined him at this moment, had heard everything; and she gave vent to her indignation in a furious gesture. At her order, the footman and the maid left the room, one behind the other, looking very serious, but in reality feeling highly amused. After a short pause, Abbé Mauduit complained bitterly: why expose him in that manner? why stir up things it was far better to let rest? The condition of affairs had now become most disgraceful. But Clotilde repeated her gesture: so much the worse! she had far greater worries. Moreover, she would certainly not send the servants away, for fear the whole neighborhood learnt the story of the attempted suicide that very evening. She would decide what to do later on.
“You will not forget, will you? the most complete repose,” urged the doctor, coming from the bed-room. “He will get over it perfectly, but all fatigue must be avoided. Take courage, madame.”
And, turning toward the priest, he added:
“You can preach him a sermon later on, my dear friend. I do not give him up to you yet. If you are returning to Saint-Roch, I will accompany you; we can walk together.”
Then they left the house, and slowly followed the Rue Neuve-Saint-Augustin. As they raised their heads, on arriving at the end of the street, they beheld Madame Hédouin smiling at them, at the door of “The Ladies’ Paradise.” Standing behind her was Octave, also laughing. That very morning they had settled on their marriage, after a serious conversation. They would wait till the autumn. And they were both full of joy at having at length arranged the matter.
“Good day, my dear Abbé Mauduit!” said Madame Hédouin, gayly. “And you, doctor, always paying visits?”
And, as the latter congratulated her on her good looks, she added:
“Oh! if there were only me, you might give up business at once.” They stood conversing a moment. The doctor having mentioned Marie’s confinement, Octave seemed delighted to hear of his former neighbor’s happy delivery. But, when he learnt that it was a third daughter, he exclaimed: