III + 

He went at once to the station, took his ticket, climbed into a carriage and when he felt himself being swept along by the train which was running down hill at Pecq, he felt a stab of fear, a sort of giddiness at the thought of his audacity. To keep himself from weakening, from backing out of it and returning alone, he strove to give up thinking about it any more, to seek distraction in other thoughts, to do what he had planned to do with a blind determination, and he set himself to hum songs from the operettas and the music-halls all the way to Paris in order to stifle his thoughts. + 

He became the prey of impulses to withdraw from the affair as soon as he had in front of him the pavements that would lead him to Tancret’s street. He loitered in front of several shops, priced some of the things, took an interest in various new things, was seized with a desire to drink a bock, which was hardly one of his habits, and as he approached his friend’s house, he felt the strongest possible wish not to meet him. + 

But Tancret was at home, alone, reading. He was surprised, jumped up, cried: + 

“Ah! Bondel! What luck!” + 

And Bondel, embarrassed, answered: + 

“Yes, old man, I came to do a little business in Paris and I came along to shake you by the hand.” + 

“That’s good of you, very good of you. All the more so because you’ve rather lost the habit of coming to see me.” + 

“Well, what could I do? There are certain kinds of pressure you can’t resist, and as my wife seemed to be annoyed with you⁠ ⁠…” + 

“Damn it⁠ ⁠… seemed to be annoyed⁠ ⁠… she went farther than that, seeing that she turned me out of the house.” + 

“But what was it all about? I myself have never known that.” + 

“Oh, about nothing!⁠ ⁠… a silly affair⁠ ⁠… a discussion in which I failed to agree with her.” + 

“But what was the discussion about?” + 

“About a lady whom you may know by name; Mme. Boutin, a friend of mine.” + 

“Oh, yes! Well, I believe that my wife is tired of it now, for she spoke to me about you this morning in the friendliest possible terms.” + 

Tancret started violently, and seemed so astounded that for some instants he found nothing to say. Then he replied: + 

“She spoke to you about me⁠ ⁠… in friendly terms?” + 

“Of course.” + 

“You’re sure of it?” + 

“Bless my soul⁠ ⁠… I’m not given to daydreams.” + 

“Well?” + 

“Well⁠ ⁠… as I was coming to Paris, I thought it would please you to hear about it.” + 

“Of course⁠ ⁠… of course.” + 

Bondel seemed to hesitate; then, after a brief silence: + 

“I even had an idea⁠ ⁠… an original idea.” + 

“What was it?” + 

“To take you back with me to dine at the house.” + 

At this suggestion, Tancret, who was temperamentally cautious, seemed uneasy. + 

“Oh, do you think⁠ ⁠… is it possible⁠ ⁠… aren’t we letting ourselves in for⁠ ⁠… for⁠ ⁠… for recriminations?” + 

“Not at all⁠ ⁠… not at all.” + 

“It’s just that⁠ ⁠… don’t you know⁠ ⁠… she’s inclined to bear a grudge, is Mme. Bondel.” + 

“Yes, but I assure you that she’s tired of it now. I am quite convinced that it would give her great pleasure to see you like that, unexpectedly.” + 

“Really?” + 

“Yes, really.” + 

“Well, come along, old man. I’m only too delighted. Believe me, this upset has been causing me great unhappiness.” + 

And they set off towards the Gare Saint-Lazare arm in arm. + 

The journey was made in silence. Both seemed lost in profound reveries. Seated facing one another in the carriage, they looked at each other without talking, each observing that the other was pale. + 

Then they left the train and took each other by the arm again, as if they were standing together against a common danger. After a few minutes’ walking, they halted, both a little out of breath, before the Bondel house. + 

Bondel ushered his friend in, followed him into the drawing room, summoned the maid, and said to her: + 

“Is your mistress at home?” + 

“Yes, sir.” + 

“Ask her to come down at once, please.” + 

They sank into two armchairs and waited, filled now by a mutual longing to get away as quickly as ever possible, before the dreaded personage appeared in the doorway. + 

A familiar tread, a firm tread, was descending the steps of the staircase. A hand touched the lock, and the eyes of both men saw the copper handle turning. Then the door opened wide, and Mme. Bondel stood still, with the intention of seeing who was there before coming in. + 

Then she stared, blushed, trembled, recoiled half a step, and then remained motionless with flaming cheeks and hands pressed against the wall at each side of the doorway. + 

Tancret, now as pale as if he were going to faint, rose, dropping his hat, which rolled across the floor. He stammered: + 

“Heavens.⁠ ⁠… Madame.⁠ ⁠… It’s I.⁠ ⁠… I thought⁠ ⁠… I ventured⁠ ⁠… I was so unhappy⁠ ⁠…” + 

As she did not reply, he went on: + 

“Have you forgiven me⁠ ⁠… at last?” + 

At that, abruptly, carried away by some inward impulse, she walked towards him with both hands outstretched; and when he had taken, clasped and held her two hands, she said in a small voice, a moved, faltering voice that her husband had never heard: + 

“Oh, my dear! I am so glad.” + 

And Bondel, who was watching them, felt his whole body grow icy cold, as if he had been drenched in a cold bath. + 