“Do not try to ward it off,” she replied: “It would be useless.”
“Because?”
“Because M. de Tregars has found Vincent Favoral; because, at this very moment, they are together, arranging their plans.”
The baron made a terrible gesture.
“Ah, thunder and lightning!” he exclaimed. “I always told you that this stupid fool, Favoral, would cause our ruin. It was so easy for you to find an occasion for him to blow his brains out.”
“Was it so difficult for you to accept M. de Tregars’ offers?”
“It was you who made me refuse.”
“Was it me, too, who was so anxious to get rid of Lucienne?”
For years, Mlle. Cesarine had not seemed so amused; and, in a half whisper, she was humming the famous tune, from “The Pearl of Poutoise,”
“Happy accord! Happy couple!”