violent emotion that she could not explain to herself.
"What is the matter?" she asked, with uneasiness.
"Nothing," he answered, almost brutally.
"You do not wish to weaken my hope?" she said, not imagining that he could not think of this hope and of Florentin. This was a path to lead him out of his confusion. In following it he would have time to recover himself.
"It is true," he said.
"You do not think that what Madame Dammauville saw proves Florentin's innocence?"
"Would what may be a proof for Madame Dammauville, for you, and for me, be one in the eyes of the law?"