"Should there be a riot or a fight, he will rush into the thickest ... to save Marcel."
"I regret, for the sake of your happiness, dear child, that I ever called you to Paris. Had you not come, you would now be living peacefully at Vaucouleurs, away from this center of trouble and strife."
At this instant Agnes the Bigot re-entered, preceding a person whom she announced, saying: "Dame Maillart has come, she assures me, in order to render you a great service. She wishes to speak to you without delay."
"I do not wish to see her!" cried Marguerite, impatiently. "I detest the sight of that woman. I refuse to receive her!"
"Madam, she says she came to render you a great service," answered the servant, sorry for having involuntarily crossed her mistress' wishes. "I thought I was doing right to allow her to come up; it is now unfortunately too late——"
Indeed, Petronille Maillart appeared at that moment at the door of the room. Triumphant and barely controlled hatred betrayed itself in the looks that the councilman's wife cast upon Marguerite. But assuming a mild and kind voice she approached the object of her envy.
"Good evening, Dame Marcel; good evening, poor Dame Marcel."
"This affectation of sympathy conceals some odious perfidy," thought Denise, whose face was still wet with tears. "I do not like to afford this wicked woman the spectacle of my sorrow."
The young maid left the room, together with the servant. Alone with the councilman's wife, Marguerite addressed her dryly:
"I am greatly astonished to see you here, madam; our friendly relations must cease."