And Chamoureau, rising from the couch, threw himself at Thélénie's feet, took her hand and kissed it with rapture, and even tried to take her knees; but his haughty conquest checked him, saying, with an air which had a faint suggestion of dignity:
"Monsieur! remember that I am to be your wife! and respect me until I no longer have the right to deny you anything."
"That is true!" cried Chamoureau, rising from the floor; "I am a villain! a blackguard! you did well to call me to order! I will lose no time about taking all the necessary steps, in order to enter into possession at the earliest possible moment of the charms which overthrow my reason."
"Do so; I approve your purpose and you have my consent; I will not conceal from you now that I desire the marriage to take place at once."
"Ah! dear love! you overwhelm me! I'm beside myself! You share my impatience! Oh! permit me to——"
"Well, monsieur?"
"Fichtre! I was going to put my foot in it again! Your hair is so lovely—you are so alluring!—Upon my word, I believe that I shall do well to go, for I can't answer for myself."
"Go; to-morrow I will look about for an apartment suited to our future position; you will trust me, I suppose?"
"In everything, and blindly. Whatever you do will be approved."
"Au revoir then, my dear De Belleville."