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A fortnight later Major Laguitte came one evening to invite himself to dinner. He felt some awkwardness at the prospect of meeting Burle again, not on his own account but because he dreaded awakening painful memories. However, as the captain was mending his ways he wished to shake hands and break a crust with him. He thought this would please his old friend.
When Rose returned with an armful of plates Laguitte, though he did not care about women, began to scrutinize her and was amazed at seeing so ugly a creature. She was very short, very dark and slightly deformed, with a face like an ape's: a flat nose, a huge mouth and narrow greenish eyes. Her broad back and long arms gave her an appearance of great strength.
Thereupon he excitedly waved his cane and shouted: "Come in and have a glass of beer with me!" The officers dared not refuse, but when the maid had brought the beer Morandot said to the major: "So you patronize this place now?" "Yes the beer is good." Captain Doucet winked and asked archly: "Do you belong to the divan, Major?" Laguitte chuckled but did not answer.
"Come," said the colonel, "will you accept me as arbitrator?" "I beg your pardon, Colonel," interrupted the major; "I have brought you my resignation. Here it is. That settles everything. Please name the day for the duel." Burle looked at Laguitte in amazement, and the colonel thought it his duty to protest. "This is a most serious step, Major," he began.
Then he stretched out his hand. "No, no," said Laguitte, "I'll see you home; I'll at least make sure that you'll sleep in your bed tonight." They went on, and as they ascended the Rue des Recollets they slackened their pace. When the captain's door was reached and Burle had taken out his latchkey he ventured to ask: "Well?" "Well," answered the major gruffly, "I am as dirty a rogue as you are.
For two months, however, he had been steadily robbing the cashbox, and by comparing dates the major found to his disgust that the famous lesson respecting Gagneux had only kept him straight for one week! This last discovery infuriated Laguitte, who struck the books with his clenched fists, yelling through a shower of oaths: "This is more abominable still!
Melanie was thus compelled to sit down between the captain and Laguitte, who exclaimed aggressively: "I WILL have ladies respected. We are French officers! Let us drink Madame's health!" Burle, with his eyes fixed on his glass, smiled in an embarrassed way. The two officers, shocked at the proceedings, had already tried to get off.
"No need to disturb anybody," said Laguitte on the landing; "my legs are not much better than yours, but if I get hold of the banisters I shan't break any bones. Now, my dear lady, I leave you happy; your troubles are ended at last. I watched Burle closely, and I'll take my oath that he's guileless as a child.
The regiment was inclined to believe that Melanie, incensed by the captain's defection, had contrived to entrap the major, telling him some abominable stories and prevailing upon him to insult and strike Burle publicly. Who would have thought it of that old fogy Laguitte, who professed to be a woman hater? they said. So he, too, had been caught at last.
Ah, he has been stealing again I feel it!" She remained erect, white and rigid. Then she added in a harsh voice: "Look you I wish he were dead!" Laguitte caught hold of both her hands, which for a moment he kept tightly clasped in his own. Then he left her hurriedly, for he felt a lump rising in his throat and tears coming to his eyes. Ah, by all the powers, this time his mind was quite made up.
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