“Look here! A rose that I haven’t got in my collection!”
“What’s that to me?” said Jean brusquely. “Will she have me or not?”
The old man let fall the stalk that he held so carefully, put his hands to his head, and cried,
“Good heavens, I must be mad, I am dangerously mad. I forgot all about your offer!”
Jean looked at him pityingly. “So you forgot!” he said.
“But I am going back,” said M. Loigny, sitting up straight.
“No, I will go myself. Go back to your flowers, Uncle.”
And he went on his way to Le Maupas.
The old man followed him with his eye as far as the turn in the road. Then he wiped his face, made a sign to the coachman to continue, and for the first time went home to Rose Villa without any feeling of pleasure.
Jean discovered Madame Guibert in the garden at Le Maupas. She smiled when she saw him, sweetly and shyly. And he felt his heart lighten.