"Don't
tire the poor child," he said to Madame de Fondege. "The best
thing you can do would be to take her home and put her to bed."
I agree with you; but unfortunately, I have sent away my brougham
with orders not to return for me until one o'clock."
"Is that the only difficulty? If so, you shall have a carriage at
once, my dear madame." So saying, the baron made a sign to one of
the servants, and the man started on his mission at once.
Madame de Fondege was silent but furious. "He is actually putting
me out of doors," she thought. "This is a little too much! And
why doesn't the baroness make her appearance--she must certainly
have heard my voice? What does it all mean? However, I'm sure
Marguerite will tell me when we are alone."
But Madame de Fondege was wrong, for she vainly plied the girl
with questions all the way from the Rue de la Ville l'Eveque to
the Rue Pigalle. She could only obtain this unvarying and
obstinate reply: "Nothing has happened. What do you suppose could
have happened?"
Never in her whole life had Madame de Fondege been so incensed.
"The blockhead!" she mentally exclaimed. "Who ever saw such
obstinacy! Hateful creature!--I could beat her!"
She did not beat her, but on reaching the house she eagerly asked:
"Do you feel strong enough to go up stairs alone?"
"Yes, madame."
"Then I will leave you.
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