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HILE he was alone, M. Hervart had done his best to take a decision, as he had promised himself to do; but decisions had ﬂuttered like capricious butterﬂies round his head and would not let themselves be caught. He was neither surprised nor vexed at the fact.

"Rose," he said to himself at last, "will do all I want."

This certitude was enough for him. The moment he had a will, Rose would acquiesce.

"Provided my will agrees with hers, that's obvious. Now Rose's wish is to become Mme Hervart. Dear little thing, she's in love with me...."

He dwelt complacently on this idea, but a moment later it alarmed him and he felt himself a prisoner. A hundred times over he repeated:

"I must have done with it. I will speak to