Maxence started upon his chair.
“Was it he, then,” he said in a tone of bitter irony, “who suggested to you the idea of our fraternal association?”
A frown appeared upon the girl’s countenance. She evidently felt hurt by the tone of this species of interrogatory.
“At least he did not disapprove of it,” she replied.
But that answer was just evasive enough to excite Maxence’s anxiety.
“Was it from him too,” he went on, “that came the lovely idea of having me enter the Mutual Credit?”
“Yes, it was from him.”
“For what purpose?”
“He did not explain.”
“Why did you not tell me?”