"You are sure the dress can be completed if—if I give you this invitation?"
"Yes, madame, if it be given at once. See," pointing to the clock, "five minutes have flown already, and in every moment we are to do the work of an hour. There is the pen."
Madame de Fleury took it reluctantly.
"That detestable Mrs. Gilmer will triumph so much!"
"You triumph in having obtained the dress that was refused to her, and has been refused to many others. But time flies, and I shall not be able, with all the magical aid for which I am given credit, to keep my word. Victorine, while Madame de Fleury is writing, apprise the young ladies to put by, as rapidly as possible, all other work, and be ready to take in hand that which I will give them directly. We want our whole force; let me find every one prepared to aid."
Victorine left the room to execute these orders.
Madame de Fleury seated herself and dipped the pen in ink.
"If you knew what it costs me to consent," she began.
"If I did not know," rejoined Madeleine, "I should not have offered to make a sacrifice of so much importance. A few moments more and it will be too late to decide,—your consent will be of no avail."
"Ah, that is true," cried Madame de Fleury, writing rapidly.