She named some of the constellations. Cygnus, the most beautiful, appeared to be on the wing like a diamond-shaped flock of birds. I took Raymonde’s hand in mine so that she would look at me.
“Now,” I said, “there is no one in the world but you and me. I shall love you all my life.”
“Oh, no,” she replied, “that is not sufficient.”
“What must you have?”
“Our life—that is not enough. It will end. I wish a love which will never end. Never. Never.”
“Is that possible?”
“Of course, since there is Eternity.”
At that moment her faith was contagious, enlarging and consecrating our love.
* * *
At the chateau we found a large fire burning in the little salon, which I had refurnished for her. She looked at the furniture, the pictures and the hangings, and then at me with a smile that was a little sad. Did she have a presentiment of the future? Now that I am able to interpret truly the past, I recall having seen, one morning when I was out shooting, a young hind stop at the entrance to a wood, where I was hiding. She inhaled the fresh breeze and then hesitated in fear. Finally she came on in my direction.