"Ah!" said he, in a mocking tone, "madame seems afraid of being looked at."
"Perhaps so, sir," said she, dryly.
"I quite understand the reason," resumed the soldier. "But she can calm her nerves. I can deprive myself of the pleasure." And as he noticed the movement of indignation of Mademoiselle de Locherais, continued, "I speak solely for the interest of her health; and to allow her to breathe with her face uncovered, as we want air in this box, I think I had better lower the window."
"I object to it," said mademoiselle quickly; "my doctor has forbidden any exposure to the morning air."
"And mine has forbidden me to smother," replied the young man, putting out his hand to open the sash.
But the old maid cried out. The window was on her side, she had a right to have it closed, and appealed to the other travellers.
However little disposed Darvon had been in favor of Mademoiselle de Locherais, he considered it right to defend her, and the result was a sharp discussion between him and the soldier, which would have ended in trouble had not Grugel ceded his place at the other window.
The soldier accepted it with a bad grace, preserving a strong feeling against Darvon.
Now, the reader has already perceived that Gontran's predominant qualities were neither resignation nor patience. The contrarieties of the journey had excited his sickly inability, therefore the disagreement which had already broken out between them was renewed several times, and only awaited a favorable opportunity to become a later quarrel.