"And you would not give him up to me?" asked madame, coaxingly. "Do you think his father would object?"
"His father is dead, madame," said Rose, in a low voice.
"Pardon me, child, I did not know that you were a widow. I am a widow. It is very dull, being a widow; don't you think so, dear? Did your husband leave you property?"
"No," replied Rose, answering the inexcusable question, for she could not bear to seem disrespectful to Vincent's mother.
"That is a pity, dear; my husband left me plenty. I shall will it all to Charley, if you will only give him up to me. What was your husband's name, dear."
"Vincent L'Estrange Vincent;" answered Rose, startled at the strange sound of her own voice.
"Singular! Same name as my son's," said madame, "Very singular."
"He was your son;" said Rose, in the same strange, cold tone.
"My son never was married;" replied madame.