Trying, in spite of the darkness, to look into Bijou's eyes, he asked anxiously:
"Will you be able to love me a little, as I love you?"
Without answering, she held her pretty lips up to him, but just at that moment the sound of voices made them move away from each other abruptly.
Only a few yards away from them they could hear several persons talking in low voices, and also the sound of heavy footsteps walking with measured tread. It seemed as though just there, quite near to them, a heavy burden were being carried along, whilst, in the midst of the darkness, lights kept passing by.
"It's very odd," said M. de Clagny; "one would think something had happened."
Bijou, however, who had stopped short, her heart beating fast with anxiety, struck with the strangeness of the little procession, put her hand on the count's arm, and said, quite tranquilly:
"Oh, no! it must be the men going back to the farm. Just now they are at work up at the house through the day, and then, when they have had something to eat, they go back home."
"It seemed to me, though, that the lanterns were on the way towards the house."
She was walking along with her hand on his arm, and a thrill of joy ran through him as he drew this beautiful girl, who had just promised herself to him, closer still, in a passionate embrace.
They returned slowly to the house along the avenues, meeting several carriages, which were bearing away the departing guests.