The essential thing was to warn the old magistrate; and so in a
couple of pages she summarized the scene of the evening, feeling
sure that she would find an opportunity to post her letter on the
following day. This duty accomplished, she took a book and went
to bed, hoping to drive away her gloomy thoughts by reading. But
the hope was vain. Her eyes read the words, followed the lines
and crossed the pages, but her mind utterly refused to obey her
will, and in spite of all her efforts persisted in turning to the
shrewd youth who had solemnly sworn to find Pascal for her. A
little after midnight Madame de Fondege returned from the opera,
and at once proceeded to reprimand her maid for not having lighted
a fire. The General returned some time afterward, and he was
evidently in the best of spirits.
They have not seen their son," said Mademoiselle Marguerite to
herself, and this anxiety, combined with many others, tortured her
so cruelly, that she did not fall asleep until near daybreak.
Even then she did not slumber long. It was scarcely half-past
seven when she was aroused by a strange commotion and a loud sound
of hammering. She was trying to imagine the cause of all this
uproar, when Madame de Fondege, already arrayed in a marvellous
robe composed of three skirts and an enormous puff, entered the
room. "I have come to take you away, my dear child," she
exclaimed.
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