"No—no!" she replied with unusual vehemence.
"Alas! I know too well," returned Maurice sadly. "But why should you be agitated and troubled by what he says? What right has he to give you pain?"
"You must leave me—leave me at once!" cried Madeleine, nervously.
Victorine was enchanted; the plot thickened! Here was a mystery, and she held the clew to it! It was very plain that Mademoiselle Melanie did not wish these two gentlemen to meet.
"Victorine, you will conduct monsieur"—said Madeleine. "I do not wish him to leave by the front entrance; you will conduct him through the garden."
There was a private entrance into the street through the large garden at the back of the house; but this was the first time that Victorine had ever received an order to show any visitor out by that way, and she felt she was beginning to be admitted to Mademoiselle Melanie's confidence,—an honor for which she had long sighed.
Maurice was about to remonstrate, but Madeleine said to him, imploringly, "Can you not trust me? Will you not consent to my wishes, and trust to their being explained some future day?"
Maurice, though tormented by the keenest pangs of jealousy, could not resist this appeal.
"I trust you ever, Madeleine," he replied, taking up his hat. "When may I see you again?"
"When you choose; you are always welcome; but go now. Show monsieur through the garden, Victorine."