"Out?" queried Madame. "Whither?"
"Into the garden, ma tante. The heat indoors is oppressive and...."
"You lie, Fernande," broke in Madame curtly.
"Ma tante...."
"You lie. Tell me where you are going."
Then, as the girl made no reply but drew up her slim, graceful figure to its full height and looked fearlessly into the austere face of Madame de Mortain, the latter continued sternly:
"Did you see Leroux just now?"
"Yes," replied Fernande quietly.
"And you heard what he said just as he was leaving?"