VIII.
The next evening, when the night had covered the town in darkness, and when each person was within his own precinct, Monsieur and Madame Le Blanc sat quietly in their abode, in the second room from the front. The side door, which was seldom closed in summer, save when all had retired, stood open as usual; and through it the lamp on the table sent its rays out into the garden.
"It is a beautiful night," said Monsieur, taking a seat in the doorway, as the moon began to brighten, darkening the shadows of the trees that oscillated in the evening breeze. It was as quiet as the country; only now and then some distant vehicle or a coach arriving at the Hôtel de Ville broke the absolute stillness. Sorrow had again joined their hearts; and now they sat quietly together and alone, as they had done when they were first married, before
