"Come, my good Marguerite, tell me all about it, I beg you; then I shall be happier sooner, and so I shall be happier a longer time."
"Madame," said Marguerite, heroically, "that would be treason."
At that moment old André opened the door half-way, put his head in, looking very radiant and mysterious, and said to the servant:
"Marguerite, they want to know where is the thing that—that—"
"Ah, my God! he is going to say some foolishness; he never does anything else!" cried Marguerite, running to the door, where she conversed some moments with André in a low tone, after which she came back to her mistress, who said to her, smiling:
"Come, Marguerite, since you are relentless, I am going to see for myself."
"Madame, you think so? You are not able yet to walk after such an illness."
"Do not scold me, I submit; I will not spoil the surprise, but how impatient I am to know!"
The door of the library opened again.
It was David, Frederick, and Doctor Dufour.