"'Mons. de Létorière will have the honor of presenting himself to-day, at noon, at the house of Madame Flachsinfingen.'
"Do you comprehend that? At Madame's house. Is not that clear? It is not at the house of the councillor that he will present himself, but at the house of the councillor's wife. Tis a kind of rendezvous which he asks of me. He does not hide it; he attempts no subterfuge; he avows it without shame; and you,—you do not trouble yourself, you stand there, careless of the affront! Go along! go along, Flachsinfingen! you are not worthy to have an honest wife! To ask a rendezvous of me! The impudent fellow!"
"How, Martha, do you really believe that the Marquis dreamed of it? . . . Come, now, you are foolish and ridiculous!" cried the councillor. "If he asks a rendezvous, it is to speak to you about his lawsuit; nothing is more simple. He, like all the rest of the world, knows that I place entire confidence in you; that is to say, you lead me by the nose. So, in order to influence me, he very naturally wishes to act upon you, Martha."
"To act upon me!! How to act upon me!! I will prevent it at the peril of my life!" cried the conseillère, in heroic accents.
At this moment they heard a carriage stop at the door.
"Heavens! that is he," said the conseillère, leaning upon her husband's chair. "I have not a drop of blood in my veins! Flachsinfingen, do not quit me! In heaven's name defend me from this audacious fellow!"
But the carriage continued on its way it was a false alarm.
Martha passed her hand over her forehead, saying with emotion:
"My heart failed me, I confess; but a woman cannot always control her fears."
"Well, if you fear this Marquis, why the devil do you receive him? Why do you face him?" innocently asked the councillor.