Then Marthe entered again:
“The children demand monsieur.”
The host bounded up from his chair.
“What! The children demand monsieur!” he exploded. “At nine o’clock! It is not possible that they are not asleep!”
“They say that monsieur promised to return to them after dinner.”
“It is true!” he admitted, with a gesture of discovery. “It is true!”
“I pray thee,” said the mother. “Go at once. And do not excite them.”
“I think I’ll go with you,” I said.
“My little Bennett,” the mother leaned towards me, “I supplicate you—at this hour—”
“But naturally he will come with me!” the host cried obstreperously.