“May I come in, daddy?”
Hastily the young Frenchman turned to the doctor.
“And you won’t speak to her about it yet?” he urged.
“No. I promise you to wait until you give me permission.”
“Thank you,” St. Jacques answered. “It is better to keep silent for the present. Still, it is a relief to have told you, and to know your opinion.”
“Oh, daddy, I’m coming. I want to talk to you,” Nancy reiterated.
Noiselessly the doctor slid back the bolt on the panelled door, just as Nancy turned the knob. It was done so deftly that the girl pushed open the door and entered the room, without in the least suspecting that she had walked in upon a secret conference.
“You here?” she said, nodding gayly to St. Jacques.
“Yes; but I am just going away.”
“Don’t hurry. I only came to ask my father a question or two. How much longer are we going to stay here, daddy?”