\"Youmean，\"saidlaPeyrade，seizingtheballinitsbound，\"thattogetyououtoftheclawsofthatjuryisathirteenthlaborofHercules，imposeduponmetoearnthehandofMademoiselleColleville？
Iexpectedthatdemandswouldmultiplyinproportiontotheproofsofmydevotion。Butthatistheverythingthathaswornmeout，andI
havecomehereto—daytoputanendtothisslavelaborbygivingbacktoyouyourpledges。YoumaydisposeofCeleste’shand；formypart，I
amnolongerasuitorforit。\"
TheunexpectednessandsquarenessofthisdeclarationleftThuillierwithoutwordsorvoice，allthemorebecauseatthismomententeredBrigitte。Thetemperoftheoldmaidhadalsogreatlymoderatedsincethepreviousevening，andhergreetingwasfullofthemostamicablefamiliarity。