"I thought you were never coming. Had you forgotten our proposed walk?"
He put his arms around her, folding her close to his throbbing heart, and pressing his lips to hers in a long passionate caress.
She was astonished. "Why, what is the matter? You are trembling!"
"Grenoble saw us last night."
"Grenoble?"
"I have no time to tell you about it—somebody might interrupt us here."
"Do you love me?" she asked.
At this moment the heavy portiére was raised at the other end of the room, and Elaine appeared. Claude replied:
"Do I love you? More than life or honor." Elaine came from the sunshine in her room and could not see any thing in the dim light of the drawing-room, but she recognized the voice and heard his cruel words. She uttered a low cry and disappeared. The two lovers started back in horror. Who had overheard them? Odette spoke first:
"No one could have seen us," she said; "it is so dark in here. I will go to my room."