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Mademoiselle Verney is alone in Nîmes. She has no friends here beyond myself, and she has been staying at the Hotel de Provence while passing through the town. Would it be better for her to be at the hotel, or at the town hospital, or here?" "Here decidedly!" answered the doctor. "Mme Giras is kindness itself I know her well. I recommend that mademoiselle stay here."
From the corner of a lane near the Maison Carrée, Crau, the young Provençal, had been watching them keenly as they talked together. Mme Giras, the proprietress of the Villa Clémentine, was a rosy, smiling body, plumped and rounded in almost every aspect, and with a heart of gold.
A peasant's cart drawn by a tiny donkey came providentially to solve the problem. Rivière laid Elaine on the straw of the cart; snatched the reins from the owner; drove home at frantic speed; had her put to bed in his own room by Mme Giras; 'phoned imperatively for a doctor and a nurse. And now he waited in straining anxiety for the verdict.
"I shall probably remain here for a month or more," answered Rivière somewhat stiffly: and then to salve her feelings: "You are making me wonderfully comfortable. I shall always associate the Midi with Mme Giras." "Monsieur est bien amiable!" replied the little old lady, much pleased. She hurried off to the kitchen to see that Marie was making no error of judgment in the mixing of the sauces.
The agony of the first days had died down, but she was absolutely helpless. Her eyes were bandaged, and she was dependent on the sister of mercy and Mme Giras for everything. "Crau is in prison," said he. "I've given formal evidence against him, and he is remanded for trial a month hence. When you are well again, they will take your evidence on commission.
"No; I shall go over to Arles this afternoon and post it there. As you know, it's scarcely an hour away by train." He glanced at his watch. "Past twelve o'clock already! Won't you stay and take lunch with me? Madame Giras is famous in Nîmes for her bouillabaisse." She agreed readily, and a dainty lunch was soon served them in the covered arbour.
When Rivière returned to the villa for lunch, he found the table in the arbour laid for two, and by one plate a rose had been placed. "I have prepared for two," said Mme Giras, smilingly. "Is it not right?" "Thank you; but it will not be necessary," answered Rivière. "After all my preparations! And the lunch that was to be my chef d'oeuvre!" There was keen disappointment in her voice.
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