The following day he thought he would anticipate his wife's visit to Mme. Walter and attempt to find out if she really was in love with him. He arrived at Boulevard Malesherbes at two o'clock. He was ushered into the salon and waited. Finally Mme. Walter appeared and offered him her hand cordially. "What good wind blows you here?"
"No good wind, but a desire to see you. Some power has impelled me hither, I do not know why; I have nothing to say except that I have come; here I am! Pardon the morning call and the candor of my explanation."
He uttered those words with a smile upon his lips and a serious accent in his voice.
In her astonishment, she stammered with a blush: "But indeed—I do not understand—you surprise me."
He added: "It is a declaration made in jest in order not to startle you."
They were seated near each other. She took the matter as a jest. "Is it a declaration—seriously?"
"Yes, for a long time I have wished to make it, but I dared not; they say you are so austere, so rigid."
She had recovered her self-possession and replied:
"Why did you choose to-day?"
"I do not know." Then he lowered his voice: "Or rather because I have thought only of you since yesterday."