But she interrupted him, and, shrugging her shoulders,
“Why don’t you tell the truth?” she said. “You were afraid to trust me.”
“Oh!”
“You are wrong! What I promise to do I do. I only wanted to go home to dress. Can I go in the street in this costume?”
And she was spreading out her wrapper, all faded and stained.
“I have a carriage below,” said Marius. “No one will see us.”
Doubtless she understood that it was useless to hesitate.
“As you please,” she said.
M. de Tregars took Maxence aside, and in a hurried whisper,
“You must,” said he, “go at once to the Rue St. Gilles, and in my name request your sister to accompany you. You will take a closed carriage, and you’ll go and wait in the Rue St. Lazare, opposite No. 25. It may be that Mlle. Gilberte’s assistance will become indispensable to me. And, as Lucienne must not be left alone, you will request Mme. Fortin to go and stay with her.”