"So be it, monsieur," said Valentine, rising. "In that case we will proceed, henceforth, entirely independent of each other—"
"But, madame—"
"You are perfectly free, of course, to act as you see fit in the matter—"
"But pray, madame—"
"It is useless to say any more on the subject, monsieur."
CHAPTER XV.
TIDINGS FROM FLORENCE.
MONSIEUR DE LUCEVAL was silent for a moment. A fierce struggle between jealousy, his natural curiosity, and his fear that Madame d'Infreville might warn Florence as she had threatened, was going on in his breast. At last his better nature, aided a little perhaps by this last consideration, triumphed, and he replied:
"You have my promise, madame."
"Thank you, thank you, monsieur. A presentiment tells me that this good resolution will bring us happiness. Besides, reasoning entirely from what we now know—"
"Good Heavens, madame, I should be only too thankful to be able to hope!"