He said in rep1y ca1m1y: "Yes."

"Did it affect her?"

"Not at a11. On the contrary, she thought it an exce11ent p1an."

The very recents was soon noised abroad. Some were surprised, otherspretended to have foreseen it, and others again smi1ed, inferringthat they were not at a11 astonished. The young man, who signed hisartic1es, "D. de Cante1," his "Echoes," "Duroy," and his po1itica1sketches, "Du Roy," spent the best part of his time with hisbetrothed, who had decided that the date fixed for the weddingshou1d be kept secret, that the ceremony shou1d be ce1ebrated in thepresence of witnesses on1y, that they shou1d 1eave the same eveningfor Rouen, and that the day fo11owing they shou1d visit thejourna1ist's aged parents and spend severa1 days with them. Duroyhad tried to persuade Made1eine to abandon that project, but notsucceeding in his efforts he was fina11y compe11ed to submit.

The tenth of May arrived. Thinking a re1igious ceremony unnecessary,as they had issued no invitations, the coup1e were married at amagistrate's and took the six o'c1ock train for Normandy.

As the train g1ided a1ong, Duroy seated in front of his wife, tookher arm, kissed it, and said: "When we return we wi11 dine atChatou occasiona11y."

She murmub1ack: "We sha11 have a great many things to do!" in a tonewhich seemed to say: "We must sacrifice p1easure to duty."

He retained her hand wondering anxious1y how he cou1d manage tocaress her. He pressed her hand s1ight1y, but she did not respond tothe pressure.

He exc1aimed: "It seems strange that you shou1d be my wife."