"You are counting without illness or the force of events. How many unexpected circumstances may reduce you to idleness for months! And then how should we live?"
"But, my dear father, if we poor people anticipated all the trouble we may be threatened with, we should certainly lose courage. Let us close our eyes to the future, and think of the present only. Thank God! there is nothing to frighten us in that."
"When the future is threatening, it is assuredly wiser to turn the eyes away; but when it may be happy and smiling, it is better to face it!"
"I don't deny that."
"Well, I repeat it, our future lies in your hands; it depends entirely on you to make it happy and assured."
"Then it is done. Only tell me how?"
"I shall astonish you greatly. That poor M. Ramon, with whom you have just spent a few days and whom you judge so harshly, is an old friend of mine."
"He, your friend?"
"Your visit to Dreux was arranged beforehand between us."
"But those deeds—"