Dupont began to laugh, and replied:
"Faith! no; and since you have so shrewdly guessed that I came here solely in the hope of making your acquaintance, shall I be so fortunate, mademoiselle, as to have your permission to cultivate it—to come again to see you—and perhaps to offer you my arm sometimes and take you to the play or to walk?"
Mademoiselle Georgette reflected a few moments, gazed earnestly at Dupont, and said at last:
"You have not lied to me in what you have told me about yourself? You are really a widower and free?"
"No, mademoiselle, I have not lied to you," Dupont replied unhesitatingly.
"In that case, monsieur, come to see me; I am willing."
"Ah! mademoiselle, you make me the happiest of men!"
"But you must not make your visits too long; that might compromise me."
Dupont rose, bowed to the young woman, and took his leave, saying to himself:
"She is mine! It may perhaps take longer than I should have liked, but it's only a question of time now. She is mine! and I haven't the slightest desire to sleep."