Pierre was furious and raised his fists as if to strike her, but the determination in her face made him pause, and after a short period of reflection he put his arms round her neck and kissed her ardently.
"Well," he said at length, "I see there is nothing for it but to obey you."
"That's a good boy. I see you are beginning to learn your lessons very well. You will find me a wonderfully good teacher," and she smiled and gave him a kiss in return.
Pierre shrugged his shoulders in helpless fashion and looked very gloomy.
Several days passed, and at her request he took a little house near Biarritz where they lived together for some weeks.
At length money was beginning to run short and they both felt the need of a change, so at her request they took the train for Monte Carlo. It was only the second day after their arrival at the Metropole that Pierre recognised Delapine and the rest of the party in the Salle de Jeu. At once he saw the danger he was running, and so hastily quitting the salon he gave Madame the slip and took the night train for Bordeaux.
No sooner had he arrived at Marseilles, and was on the point of leaving, when who should step into the compartment but Madame Paradis.
The next day after the distribution of the spoils at the Hotel des Anglais, Delapine's party had just finished lunch when Marcel, glancing at Violette's ring, asked her if it had a history.