But the countess did not literally carry her threat into execution; for, noticing the absence of Count Tristan, she said hurriedly,—
"Where is your father?"
"Pray sit down one moment, my dear grandmother"—
She interrupted him by asking again, more anxiously,—
"Where is your father?"
"I will explain, but"—
"Why do you not answer my question?" she cried with increased violence. "Where is your father?"
Could Maurice answer "At Madeleine's?" He still hesitated, and the countess, with more rapid steps than she was wont to use, hastened to Count Tristan's bedroom.
Mrs. Gratacap greeted her with "Oh, poor dear, don't take on about it! We couldn't but expect that it would come soon, and"—
The countess did not wait to hear the close of her sentence, but with a cold horror creeping through her veins, hurried back to Maurice, and once more asked, imperiously,—