"We'll push the bolt and fasten ourselves in," said Herminie, promptly, hastening towards the door.
But just as the young girl was about to place her hand on the bolt, the door suddenly opened, and M. de Macreuse entered the room.
On seeing him, Herminie uttered a cry and sprang back, while this model young man, turning towards some one who had remained in the next room, exclaimed, in accents of amazement and baffled rage:
"Hell! she is not alone! All is lost!"
On hearing these words, a second intruder appeared.
It was Ravil.
And at the sight of Herminie, he cried, in a no less surprised and angry tone:
"Damnation! that girl here!"
Herminie and Ernestine had retreated to the farther end of the room, and there, clasped in each other's arms as if to afford each other mutual support, they stood, paralysed with fright, and unable to utter a word.
Macreuse and Ravil, at first astounded, and then infuriated by the unexpected presence of Herminie, which seemed likely to ruin their plans, also stood silent and motionless for a moment, gazing inquiringly at each other as if to read in each other's faces what they had better do under such unforeseen circumstances.