"Yes, Marie."
"The Priory where all your family was born?... The Priory where your father and your mother died?... The Priory, Holy Jesus!"
"Yes, Marie."
She recoiled as if frightened.
"Then you are a wicked son, Monsieur Jean!"
I made no reply. Marie left the dining room and did not speak to me any more.
Two days later, my business having been attended to, the deed signed, I left.... My money was hardly enough to last me a month.... I was done for! Overwhelming debts, ignoble debts was all that was left to me!... Ah! if the train could only carry me on and on, always further on, never to arrive anywhere!... It was only in Paris that I reminded myself that I had not even gone to kneel down at the grave of my father and mother.
Juliette received me tenderly. She embraced me passionately.
"Ah! dear, dear!... I thought you would never come back!... Five days, just think of it!... Next time if you have to go again I want to go with you."
She appeared so affectionate, so truly moved, her caresses gave me such confidence, and then the burden on my soul was so heavy, that I did not hesitate to tell her everything. I took her in my arms and put her on my lap.