"Impossible! impossible! impossible!" she murmured, and she sank back in her chair.
Then suddenly remembering that this consultation had lasted nearly an hour, and that Madame Tallien was waiting for her, she rose, tossed her purse to Mademoiselle Lenormand without looking to see how much it contained, and darted into the salon. She seized Madame Tallien by the waist and drew her away, scarcely replying to the bow which the incroyable made to the two ladies as they passed before him.
"Well?" asked Madame Tallien, stopping Josephine on the flight of steps which led down to the courtyard.
"Well," replied Madame de Beauharnais, "that woman is crazy."
"What did she predict for you?"
"It is your turn first."
"I warn you, my dear, that I have already become accustomed to her prediction," said Madame Tallien; "she said that I would be a princess."
"Well," said Josephine, "I am not yet accustomed to mine. She said that I would be an empress."
And the two false grisettes got into their carriage.