"Ah!" exclaimed the duchess, "if the government is officially informed of it, of course there is nothing to be said; but," she added, venturing on still more slippery ground, "I did hear differently."
"Madame!" said the old gentleman, in a tone of slight reproach.
"What did you hear, cousin?" asked M. de Vouillé, who was beginning to take the interest of a gambler in the game that was being played before him.
"Yes, what have you heard, madame?" said the prefect.
"Oh, you understand, Monsieur le préfet, that it is not for me to give you official news," said the duchess. "I am only telling you of rumors, which may be mere nonsense."
"Madame de la Myre!" said the old man.
"Well, Monsieur de la Myre?" said the duchess.
"Do you know, madame," said the prefect, "that I think your husband is very interfering. I will wager it is he who does not want you to go to Paris?"
"That is precisely true. But I hope to go there in spite of him. 'What woman wills, God wills.'"
"Oh, women! women!" cried the public functionary.