No doubt he had done so, for Jean Jacques was a man of sentiment and chivalry, and there was no proof that there had been anything more than a few mad caresses between the two misdemeanants; yet here was the woman with the man for whom she had imperilled her future and that of her husband and child! As though Carmen understood what was going on in his mind, she said: "Since you know everything, you can understand that I want a few words with M'sieu' George here alone." "Madame, I beg of you," the Clerk of the Court answered instantly, his voice trembling a little--"I beg that you will not be alone with him.
As I believe, your husband is willing to let bygones be bygones, and to begin to-morrow as though there was no to-day.

In such case you should not see Monsieur Masson here alone.

It is bad enough to see him here in the office of the Clerk of the Court, but to see him alone--what would Monsieur Jean Jacques say?
Also, outside there in the street, if our neighbours should come to know of the trouble, what would they say?
I wish not to be tiresome, but as a friend, a true friend of your whole family, madame--yes, in spite of all, your whole family--I hope you will realize that I must remain here.

I owe it to a past made happy by kindness which is to me like life itself.

Monsieur Masson, is it not so ?" he added, turning to the master-carpenter.