"Not long!"
"As long as it may be necessary. We are friends in the meantime?"
"If we are friends, there is nothing further to expect," I said, holding out my hand frankly to the Little Countess. I felt that she was pressing it lightly, and the conversation ended there. We had reached the top of the hills; it was now quite dark, and we galloped all the rest of the way to the chateau.
As I was coming down from my room for dinner, I met Madame de Malouet in the vestibule.
"Well!" she said, laughingly, "did you conform to the prescription?"
"Rigidly, madam."
"You showed yourself subjugated?
"I did, madam."
"Excellent! She is satisfied now, and so are you."
"Amen!" I said.