Any way, he must be plotting something in that head of his; for the
last month he has been so peculiar, he has changed so, that I hardly
recognize him."
Old Tabaret was especially anxious to know whether Noel had prepared
an _alibi_ for the evening of the crime. For him that was the grand
question. If he had, he was certainly guilty; if not, he might still be
innocent. Madame Juliette, he had no doubt, could enlighten him on that
point.
Consequently he had presented himself with his lesson all prepared, his
little trap all set.
The young woman's outburst disconcerted him a little; but trusting to
the chances of conversation, he resumed.
"Will you oppose Noel's marriage, then?"
"His marriage!" cried Juliette, bursting out into a laugh; "ah, the poor
boy! If he meets no worse obstacle than myself, his path will be smooth.
Let him marry by all means, the sooner the better, and let me hear no
more of him."
"You don't love him, then?" asked the old fellow, surprised at this
amiable frankness.
"Listen, sir. I have loved him a great deal, but everything has an
end. For four years, I, who am so fond of pleasure, have passed an
intolerable existence.
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