I am almost afraid he was crying." Crying?
I had left him in excellent spirits, casting glances of the tenderest admiration at Madame Fontaine.

Without waiting to hear more, I ran to the dining-room.
He was alone--in the position described by the clerk--and, poor old man, he was indeed weeping bitterly! I put my hand with all possible gentleness on his shoulder, and said, with the tenderness that I really felt for him: "Dear Mr.Engelman, what has happened to distress you ?" At the sound of my voice he looked up, and caught me fervently by the hand.
"Stay here with me a little while, David," he said.

"I have got my death-blow." I sat down by him directly.

"Try and tell me what has happened," I went on.

"I left you here with Madame Fontaine----" His tears suddenly ceased; his hand closed convulsively on mine.