The next morning over theirs coffee he told his mother of his purpose.
"Leave Paris! To-morrow! My dear Guy, that is rather a sudden notice."
"No, mother; for I am going alone."
His mother immediately bent an anxious and somewhat terrified look upon him. The frank smile she met put half her suspicions out of her head at once.
"What is the matter?"
"Nothing at all if by 'matter' you mean mischief."
"You are not in difficulty with those young men again?"
"No, mother," said he, coolly. "I am in difficulty with no one but myself."
"With yourself! But why will you not let me go with you?"
"My business will go on better if I am quite alone."