However, strange to say, after the coffee was served, the
conversation languished till at last it died out almost entirely.
Madame de Fondege was the first to disappear on the pretext that
some domestic affairs required her attention. The General was the
next to rise and go out, in order to smoke a cigar; and finally
Madame Leon made her escape without saying a word. So
Mademoiselle Marguerite was left quite alone with Lieutenant
Gustave. It was evident enough to the young girl that this had
been preconcerted; and she asked herself what kind of an opinion
M. and Madame de Fondege could have of her delicacy. The
proceeding made her so indignant that she was on the point of
rising from the table and of retiring like the others, when reason
restrained her. She said to herself that perhaps she might gain
some useful information from this young man, and so she remained.
His face was crimson, and he seemed by far the more embarrassed of
the two. He sat with one elbow resting on the table, and with his
gaze persistently fixed upon a tiny glass half full of brandy
which he held in his hand, as if he hoped to gain some sublime
inspiration from it. At last, after an interval of irksome
silence, he ventured to exclaim: "Mademoiselle, should you like to
be an officer's wife?"
"I don't know," answered Marguerite.
"Really! But at least you understand my motive in asking this
question?"
"No.
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