But the interruption had upset her; she could not proceed for some minutes. Finally she murmured:
"It is dreadful!—you do not know, señor duke, what I am going through now. I wish I were dead!"
And the tears rushing to her eyes, she drew her handkerchief from her pocket and buried her face in it.
The duke, now quite astonished, said:
"Calm yourself, señora. I am a true friend of both you and De Belichon. Whatever trouble you may have, let me share it as if it were mine, and I will do what I can to assuage it."
"Many thanks, many thanks," murmured the lady, without taking her handkerchief from her eyes; and after a minute's silence she said in a trembling voice:
"Will you do me a very great favor? A favor for which I will thank you all the days of my life—but I don't dare ask it?"
"I repeat that I am at your service; and that anything I can do for you, you may consider done."
"Oh! no, it is outrageous in me! You would never think, señor duke, that your visit to this house has caused much misery. Your attention and your admiration of my daughter Ventura's frank, merry disposition have given rise to remarks in the town."
"Oh!" interrupted the duke, smiling to hide a certain feeling of shame.