She came rapidly along towards him, crossing an open space without heeding the irregularities of the ground, as that diminished the distance which separated her from Norbert.

He advanced to meet her, and taking his arm, they plunged into the recesses of the Bois.

There had been heavy rain on the day previous, and the pathway was wet and muddy, but Madame de Mussidan did not seem to notice this.
"Let us go on," said she, "until we are certain of not being seen from the road.

I have taken every precaution.

My carriage and servants are waiting for me in front of St.Philippe du Roule; but for all that I may have been watched." "You were not so timid in bygone days." "Then I was my own mistress; and if I lost my reputation, the loss affected me only; but on my wedding day I had a sacred trust confided to me--the honor of the man who has given me his name, and that I must guard with jealous care." "Then you love me no longer." She stopped suddenly, and overwhelming Norbert with one of those glacial glances which she knew so well how to assume, answered in measured accents,-- "Your memory fails you; all that has remained to me of the past is the rejection of a proposal conveyed in a certain letter that I wrote." Norbert interrupted her by a piteous gesture of entreaty.
"Mercy!" said he.