"Why, I came in fact to tell you——"
"That is not what I want to hear, it is about the prince. So once more go."
"But, my dearest love, I have come to tell you the very thing you desire to know," exclaimed M. Girard, with intense volubility.
"Oh! that's quite another thing. Come in and shut the door, and tell us all about it as quick as you can."
"My love, you really will not give me time; and I——"
"Pray speak—do speak."
"Did the prince quite lose his consciousness?" inquired Bertha, with interest.
"Of course the princess has gone away with him?" said De Brévannes.
"Did they give him immediate assistance?" continued Madame Girard. "Timoléon, why don't you speak, and not stand there like a great clod, not opening your mouth?"
"Why, I really cannot answer so many questions at once. From what I could gather in the crowd, some said the prince was just recovering from a very long illness, and the heat of the house had quite overcome him; others declared that it was another attack of lunacy which had come over him, although they had thought him completely cured; and there were others besides, who asserted that it was violent and sudden emotion which had caused his fainting."