I bowed.
"I will tell you exactly what I think," I answered.
She dismissed me with a little nod.
I went in search of Adèle, but could find no trace of her in any of the rooms. At last, in one of the corridors, I heard Nagaski barking, and found him sitting outside the closed door of a small reading-room. Directly I moved towards him, however, he flew at me, and seized my trousers between his teeth. His eyes were fierce with anger, his whole skin seemed to be quivering with excitement. At the sound of his angry growls, the door was opened, and Adèle appeared.
"Nagaski, you naughty dog!" she exclaimed.
Nagaski let go of my trousers, but continued to growl. Adèle stooped to pick him up, and he immediately attempted to lick her face. I saw then, to my surprise, that she was very pale, and had all the appearance of having received a shock.
"What has happened?" I asked.
She motioned me to enter the room, and closed the door behind us.
"I have just received a cable from Europe," she said in a low tone. "It concerns you!"
I looked at her keenly.