The bed was not
made, the washstand was dirty, some woollen stockings were hanging
over the side of the rumpled bed, and on the mantel-shelf stood an
ancient clock, an empty beer bottle, and some glasses. On the
floor, on the furniture, in the corners, everywhere in fact,
stumps of cigars were scattered in profusion, as if they had
positively rained down.
"What!" gasped Madame de Fondege, "you haven't put this room in
order, Justine?"
"Indeed, madame, I haven't had time."
"But it's more than a month since M. Gustave slept here?"
"I know it; but madame must remember that I have been very much
hurried this last month, having to do all the washing and ironing
since the laundress----"
"That's sufficient," interrupted Madame de Fondege. And turning
to Marguerite, she said: "You will, I am sure, excuse this
disorder, my dear child. By this time to-morrow the room shall be
transformed into one of those dainty nests of muslin and flowers
which young girls delight in."
Connected with this apartment, which was known to the household as
the lieutenant's room, there was a much smaller chamber lighted
only by a single window, and originally intended for a dressing-
room. It had two doors, one of them communicating with
Marguerite's room, and the other with the passage; and it was now
offered to Madame Leon, who on comparing these quarters with the
spacious suite of rooms she had occupied at the Hotel de Chalusse,
had considerable difficulty in repressing a grimace.
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