She remained silent,
waiting for M. Fortunat to dismiss the young man in the blouse,
whose presence she could not explain, and who stood in a sort of
mute ecstasy, staring at her with eyes expressive of the most
intense surprise and the liveliest admiration. But weary at last
of this fruitless delay, she exclaimed: "I have come, monsieur, to
confer with you respecting certain matters which require the most
profound secrecy."
Chupin understood her, for he blushed to the tips of his ears, and
started as if to leave the room. But his employer detained him
with a gesture.
"Remain, Victor," he said kindly, and, turning to Mademoiselle
Marguerite, he added: "You have no indiscretion to fear from this
worthy fellow, mademoiselle. He knows everything, and he has
already been actively at work--and with the best result--on your
behalf."
"I don't understand you, sir," replied the girl.
M. Fortunat smiled sweetly. "I have already taken your business
in hand, mademoiselle," said he. "An hour after the receipt of
your letter I began the campaign."
"But I had not told you----"
"What you wished of me--that's true. But I allowed myself to
suspect----"
"Ah!"
"I fancied I might conclude that you wished the help of my
experience and poor ability in clearing an innocent man who has
been vilely slandered, M. Pascal Ferailleur.
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