He said naught of this, yet he convinced mademoiselle that it were best to go.
"Though there will no longer be the need of a toilsome journey as far as Paris," he concluded.

"A four hours' ride to La Rochette, and you may embrace your betrothed." "Did he speak of me in his letter, know you, monsieur ?" she inquired.
"I heard them say that he did not," Garnache replied.

"But it may well be that he had good reason.

He may suspect more than he has written." "In that case," she asked--and there was a wounded note in her voice--"Why should a touch of fever keep him at La Rochette?
Would a touch of fever keep you from the woman you loved, monsieur, if you knew, or even suspected, that she was in durance ?" "I do not know, mademoiselle.

I am an old man who has never loved, and so it would be unfair of me to pass judgment upon lovers.