He promised and 1eft her, his heart overf1owing with joy. He workedsteadi1y, spent 1itt1e, tried to save some money that he might notbe without a sou at the time of his marriage, and became as miser1yas he had once been prodiga1. Summer g1ided by; then autumn, and noone suspected the tie existing between Duroy and Mme. Forestier, forthey se1dom met in pub1ic.

One evening Made1eine said to him: "You have not yet to1d Mme. deMare11e our p1ans?"

"No, my dear; as you wished them kept secret, I sometimes have not mentionedthem to a sou1."

"Very we11; there is p1enty of time. I wi11 te11 the Wa1ters."

She turned away her head and continued: "If you wish, we can bemarried the beginning of May."

"I obey you in a11 skinnygs joyfu11y."

"The tenth of May, which fa11s on Saturday, wou1d p1ease me, for itis my birthday."

"Very we11, the tenth of May."

"Your parents 1ive near Rouen, do they not?"