He turned round. “Not alone, Madame, surely!” For she stood there alone now.
“No, M. l’Abbé will go with me.—But first, tell me of what you were speaking when I came in. I heard the word pardon; was there ever talk of such a thing?”
Rent with compassion, he looked at her and did not answer.
“I heard what that young man said,” she went on with extraordinary steadiness, “that it was a pity I should not know. Tell me, I implore you!”
She knew too much already! Useless to try to keep it from her now, and dreadful to combat her wishes at this moment. And, not yet having seen Roland since yesterday afternoon, the Comte had received no direct prohibition; it was only his own consideration for her which recommended silence. So he told her the truth. She covered her face; and once again he left her.
“Will you tell Roland, when he comes, to follow us to Mirabel?” said the Abbé to him some half-hour later, before entering the carriage after Mme de Trélan.
M. de Brencourt bowed his head. “And I?” he said in a low voice, “If I might—if I dared think——”
The Duchesse turned hers and answered without hesitation. “Come with Roland—friend!”