I will attend to the rest."
Irritated by the taciturnity of these strange folks, the landlady
of the Model Lodging House withdrew, and they soon heard the
street door close behind her with a loud bang as she left the
house. Pascal drew a long breath as if relieved of a heavy
weight. While Madame Vantrasson had been in the room he had
scarcely dared to raise his eyes, so great was his dread of
encountering the gaze of this woman, whose malignity was but
poorly veiled by her smooth-tongued hypocrisy. He really feared
he should not be able to resist his desire to strangle her.
However, Madame Ferailleur must have understood her son's
agitation, for as soon as they were alone, she said: "So you have
not forgiven me for my plain speaking?"
"How can I be angry with you, mother, when I know that you are
thinking only of my happiness? But how sorry I shall be if your
prejudices----"
Madame Ferailleur checked him with a gesture. "Let us say no more
on the subject," she remarked. "Mademoiselle Marguerite will be
the innocent cause of one of the greatest disappointments of my
life; but I have no reason to hate her--and I have always been
able to show justice even to the persons I loved the least. I
have done so in this instance, and I am going perhaps to give you
a convincing proof of it."
"A proof?"
"Yes."
She reflected for a moment and then she asked: "Did you not tell
me, my son, that Mademoiselle Marguerite's education has not
suffered on account of her neglected childhood?"
"And it's quite true, mother.
Pages:
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291