Secondly, she remained for more than an hour
yesterday evening in the drawing-room with the General's son,
Lieutenant Gustave, and, on parting, they shook hands like a
couple of friends, and said, 'It is agreed.'"
"And is that all?"
"One moment and you'll see. This morning Mademoiselle went out
with Madame de Fondege to call on the Baroness Trigault. I do not
know what took place there, but there must have been a terrible
scene; for they brought Mademoiselle Marguerite back unconscious,
in one of the baron's carriages."
"Do you hear that, viscount?" exclaimed M. de Valorsay.
"Yes! You shall have the explanation to-morrow," answered M. de
Coralth.
"And last, but not least," resumed Madame Leon, "on returning home
this evening at about five o'clock, I fancied I saw Mademoiselle
Marguerite leave the house and go up the Rue Pigalle. I had
thought she was ill and in bed, and I said to myself, 'This is
very strange.' So I hastened after her. It was indeed she. Of
course, I followed her. And what did I see? Why, Mademoiselle
paused to talk with a vagabond, clad in a blouse. They exchanged
notes, and Mademoiselle Marguerite returned home. And here I am.
She must certainly suspect something. What is to be done?"
If M. de Valorsay were frightened, he did not show it. "Many
thanks for your zeal, my dear lady," he replied, "but all this is
a mere nothing.
Pages:
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407