"It is as if there had occurred nothing."
"Yes,—to-night,—and we must prepare him a welcome of some kind. I will write him as to the hour. Let us say a supper, eh, Fouchette?"
"A supper? and here? to-night?"
Mlle. Fouchette recoiled with dismay written in every line of her countenance.
"I don't see anything so strange or horrible about that," said Jean. "I did not propose to serve you for supper."
"N-no; only——"
Mlle. Fouchette was greatly agitated. He looked at her curiously. Monsieur Lerouge coming to see him and coming to supper—where she must be present—were widely different propositions according to Mlle. Fouchette; for she had hailed the first with delight and the second in utter confusion.
"Fouchette, why don't you say at once that you don't want to do it!" he brutally added.
"You do not understand. Would it be well for—for you, mon ami? It is not for myself. He probably does not know me."