"What are you doing?" said the barber, who seemed ashamed to see the young couple at his feet. "Get up, I beg of you."
"You have made us happy," said Urbain, "and you will not even receive our thanks."
"No, no, I wish for nothing but silence and discretion."
"Aren't you glad now that you didn't injure Urbain? He meant no harm in disguising himself as a girl. It was he who sang so beautifully under my window. Oh, how happy I am! He can sing with me all the time now. He will teach me that pretty ballad and some others, too. Will you not, Urbain, teach me many things? Oh, how happy we shall be."
The barber had some trouble in calming Urbain's transports and Blanche's naïve joy. Finally he succeeded in making them listen.
"Until the time of your union," said he, "I repeat to you, I shall exact the greatest discretion. Urbain you must promise me not to speak of your marriage, and not to bring any of your acquaintances here."
"I swear to you, monsieur, that I will do as you wish; besides, I don't know anybody. I have no intimate friends."
"That is better still, you will have less to regret in leaving the city. Make all your preparations for departure, and procure all the necessary documents for your marriage. As to Blanche, I will give you the letter found on her father; that is all which concerns that matter. When you have made all the necessary arrangements, you can marry Blanche—but in the evening without any stir, with nothing that can draw people to the church to see the ceremony; I dislike idlers and curious people. Afterwards you will immediately start for the country; and you will not return to this city, where your modest means would not permit you to live happily."
"Yes, I agree to all, monsieur."
"Are you coming with us, my friend?"