“By the way, we meet to-night!” said she. “Do not forget, dear master, box No. 40....”
As soon as she was out of the Carrousel she was unable to remain serious any longer. She smiled so openly and intensely that a street urchin imitated her and cried out:
“Bon dieu, how funny it is!...”
Yes, surely, it was funny. Père Raindal in love! Who could have thought it possible? What a kiss he had given her, a kiss like a blow, it was so brutal and bashful at the same time! Poor man!... What a pity that she had broken away from that nasty Germaine! How they would have made merry together over this little story.
The memory of her perfidious friend caused Mme. Chambannes’ face to darken again. She lost her pleasant mood until after lunch, when she told her aunt Panhias of her interview.
“Be careful, child!” that voluminous lady urged. “At that age, it is sometimes very dangerous!”
“For whom?” asked Zozé.
“Not for you, of course!”
Mme. Chambannes expelled a cloud of smoke from her cigarette:
“Have no fear. I shall be careful.... Who knows? Perhaps I was mistaken!”