"'Your business is finished?' she asked carelessly, coming forward into the room."
"'It is quite finished,' I replied."
"She nodded, smiling. 'Captain Bertin has to catch a train,' she said, 'and if I did not watch the time for him, he would surely lose it. He has no idea of punctuality.'"
"'I hope he has not much packing to do,' I said."
"'I have seen to that,' she replied."
"'Then I will not intrude upon your adieux,' I said, preparing to depart. Ma foi, I was ready to weep, as Vaucher had wept, at the gay courage of her. But she stopped me."
"'Oh, the adieux are complete like the packing,' she said. 'And if you should have anything further to say to Captain Bertin, you can drive with him to the station.'"
"I could see her meaning in that; my company would guard him till he left. So I bowed."
"'I shall be very happy,' I said."
"'Then if you will send for a fiacre,' she suggested to her husband. He was standing between us, wordless and dull. He gave her a look of inquiry; she returned it with a clear, high gaze, and he went at once."