“I cannot speak to her myself,” resumed he; “do you, doctor, strive and make her have reason.”
Hortebise shrugged his shoulders. “I will see what my powers of oratory can do,” answered he; “but you are not quite yourself to-day. Remember that a chance word will betray the secret of our lives.”
“Go at once, and I swear to you that, happen what may, I will be calm.”
The doctor went back into Paul’s room, while Tantaine sat down on the topmost stair, his face buried in his hands.
Mademoiselle Flavia was just going to Paul, when the doctor again appeared.
“What, back again?” asked she petulantly. “I thought that you had been far away by this time.”
“I want to say something to you,” answered he, “and something of a rather serious nature. You must not elevate those charming eyebrows. I see you guess what I am going to say, and you are right. I am come to tell you that this is not the proper place for Mademoiselle Rigal.”
“I know that.”
This unexpected reply, made with the calmest air in the world, utterly disconcerted the smiling doctor.
“It seems to me——” began he.