"Madame la duchesse gave no order to the contrary."
"Very well,—ask M. de Macreuse to wait a moment."
Then turning to her son, she said, no longer with severity, but with deep sadness:
"Your incomprehensible refusal grieves and disappoints me more than I can express, so I beg and implore that you will remain here. I will return almost immediately. Ah, my son, my dear son, you can not imagine the terrible chagrin you are causing me."
"Pray, mother, do not say that," pleaded Gerald, touched by his mother's grief. "You know how much I love you."
"You are always saying that, Gerald. I wish I could believe it."
"Then send that brute of a Macreuse away, and let me try to convince you that my conduct is at least loyal and honest. What, you insist upon going?" he added, seeing his mother moving towards the door.
"M. de Macreuse is waiting for me," replied the duchess.
"Then let me send him word to take himself off. There is no necessity of bothering with him."
But as M. de Senneterre started towards the bell with the evident intention of giving the order, his mother checked him by saying: