m glad to see me."
Marius held his peace; she remained silent for a moment, then exclaimed:--
"But if I choose, nevertheless, I could force you to look glad!"
"What?" demanded Marius.
"What do you mean?"
"Ah! you used to call me thou," she retorted.
"Well, then, what dost thou mean?"
She bit her lips; she seemed to hesitate, as though a prey to some sort of inward conflict.
At last she appeared to come to a decision.
"So much the worse, I don''t care.
You have a melancholy air, I want you to be pleased.
Only promise me that you will smile. I want to see you smile and hear you say:
`Ah, well, that''s good.'' Poor Mr. Marius! you know?
You promised me that you would give me anything I like--"
"Yes!
Only speak!"
She looked Marius full in the eye, and said:--
"I have the address."
Marius turned pale.
All the blood flowed back to his heart.
"What address?"
"The address that you asked me to get!"
She added, as though with an effort:--
"The address--you know very well!"
"Yes!" stammered Marius.
"Of that young lady."
This word uttered, she sighed deeply.
Marius sprang from the parapet on which he had been sitting and seized her hand distractedly.
"Oh!
Well! lead me thither!
Tell me!
Ask of me anything you wish! Where is it?"
"Come with me," she responded.