A farm dog at the moment began to bark furiously. Esperance woke
quickly, looking pale and worried, with her hands pressed on her
frightened heart. She saw the telegram and opened it quickly.
"Albert will be here this evening by the second boat. What time is
it?" She showed a little emotion, but only a little, though she felt
deeply.
She looked towards the sun.
"It can't be four yet."
Jean took out his watch.
"Twenty to four," he said.
"The boat can't get here before five-thirty. Quick, quick, run, Jean,
and ask to have some conveyance got ready. I must go and tell my
father and get his permission to go with you and Genevieve to meet my
fiancee. Ah! what good luck!" she said with a long breath, "What good
luck!"
Francois Darbois was delighted for his daughter to go and meet Albert,
and departed so radiantly that he said to his wife, "I believe she is
getting to love this brave Albert?"
Genevieve, who had heard, as had also Jean, said to the young man in a
low voice, "But, my God! suppose she is beginning to love the Duke?"
CHAPTER XXII
The boat approached the little quay of Palais slowly with Count
Styvens standing well forward, his tall figure silhouetted against the
grey of the sea. He caught sight of Esperance immediately, as she
stood up in the brake, waving her handkerchief. Great happiness was in
his heart, and in his haste to be ashore, he went to assist them to
lay down the gangplank, and was at the carriage in a second, kissing
most tenderly the hand Esperance held out to him.
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