Just then another no less imperious blow of the knocker resounded.
Madame Moufflon drew the cord with an automatic movement exactly as before, and again a voice cried from under the archway:
"Both doors, please!"
And another footman, clad in green and gold livery this time, stepped up to the door of the porter's lodge, at which an acquaintance must have been standing, for he exclaimed:
"What, Lorrain, is that you? I just saw your master's carriage. What's the matter here? Why don't they open the doors? Are the porter and portress asleep?"
"One would think they had glass eyes. Look at them, they don't move."
"And it is madame la duchesse they're keeping waiting. She never gets impatient, oh, no!"
"Madame la duchesse!" repeated M. Bouffard, more and more astounded, but still motionless.
"Mille tonnerres! will you open the doors sometime to-night?" demanded one of the footmen.
"But who do you wish to see?" asked M. Bouffard, awakening from his stupor.