"Go."
Étienne, feeling awkward, was delaying, and trying to find some friendly word, so as not to separate in this manner.
"Then you're still going?"
"Yes."
"Well, give me your hand, old chap. A pleasant journey, and no ill feeling."
The other stretched out an icy hand. Neither friend nor wife.
"Good-bye for good this time."
"Yes, good-bye."
And Souvarine, standing motionless in the darkness, watched Étienne and Catherine entering the Voreux.
CHAPTER III
At four o'clock the descent began. Dansaert, who was personally installed at the marker's office in the lamp cabin, wrote down the name of each worker who presented himself and had a lamp given to him. He took them all, without remark, keeping to the promise of the placards. When, however, he noticed Étienne and Catherine at the
