At this moment the door opened and Maison-Rouge appeared.
"Well, monsieur?" asked the duke.
"The governor has an order from the lieutenant of police to admit Mademoiselle Helene de Chaverny; shall I bring her here?"
"Monseigneur," said Gaston, looking at the duke with an air of entreaty.
"Yes, monsieur," said he, "I understand—grief and love do not need witnesses—I will come back to fetch Mademoiselle Helene."
"The permission is for half an hour," said Maison-Rouge.
"Then at the end of that time I will return," said the duke, and bowing to Gaston, he went out.
An instant after the door opened again, and Helene appeared, trembling, and questioning Maison-Rouge, but he retired without replying.
Helene looked round and saw Gaston, and for a few minutes all their sorrows were forgotten in a close and passionate embrace. "And now—" cried Helene, her face bathed in tears.
"Well! and now?" asked Gaston.