Monsieur de Boisguilbault did not reply; a wan smile played about his lips, which moved as if to speak but emitted only the problematical sigh. But he placed his hand on Emile's, and it seemed to the younger man that he felt a cool moisture, which imparted to that hand of stone some symptom of life.
At last he rose and said:
"We will take our coffee in the park.—For I am entirely of your opinion," he added after a pause, as if he were finishing aloud a sentence he had begun under his breath.
"Really?" cried Emile, resolutely passing his arm through his host's.
"Why not, pray?" rejoined the latter coolly.
"Then all these things are indifferent to you?"
"God grant it!" replied Monsieur de Boisguilbault, with a more pronounced sigh than usual.
XVII
THAW
Emile had as yet admired the park of Boisguilbault only over the hedges and through the gate. He was more than ever impressed by the beauty of that pleasure-ground, by the luxuriance of the plants and their happy arrangement.