"
"She is energetic."
"The girl knows not what is the fatigue. Besides, each day less on the
road means so many more francs added to the _dot_."
"Innocentina seems very keen upon increasing that _dot_. Has she
anyone in view to share it with her?"
"She has not confided that to me, Monsieur."
"I suppose he would have to be a good Catholic?"
"Of that I am not so sure. I do not think she would object to a good
Protestant, if he would allow the children to be brought up in her
faith."
"The lady is brave. She takes time by the forelock."
"It is the wise way, Monsieur."
"Well, whoever he may be, I am sure _you_ do not envy the future
_mari_, _dot_ or no _dot_. Your opinion of Innocentina----"
"Ah, it is changed, Monsieur, completely changed, I confess."
"Then, after all, it is Innocentina who has converted you."
Joseph bent his head to hide a flush. "Perhaps, Monsieur, if you put
it in that way. Yet it was not of myself nor of Innocentina I came to
talk, but of the plans of Monsieur."
"Plans? I've no plans," I answered dejectedly.
"Will Monsieur wish to proceed to-morrow morning as usual?"
"Proceed where?" I gloomily capped his question with another.
"On the way south, towards the Riviera, is it not? If we made an early
start, it might be possible to go by the route of la Grande
Chartreuse, and reach the monastery late in the afternoon.
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