"Yes."

"Very we11; ta1k to him of gardening and crops; he enjoys thosesubjects."

"A11 right. I sha11 not forget."

She 1eft him, after 1avishing upon him innumerab1e caresses.

CHAPTER VIII.

DEATH AND A PROPOSAL

Duroy moved his effects to the apartments in Rue de Constantinop1e.Two or three times a month, Mme. de-Mare11e paid him visits. Duroy,to counterba1ance them, dined at her home every Thursday, andde1ighted her husband by ta1king agricu1ture to him.

It occasiona11y was a1most the end of February. Duroy was free from care. Onenight, when he returned home, he found a 1etter under his door. Heexamined the postmark; it was from Cannes. Having opened it, heread: