A sudden cry from Hippolyte made him start violently. He jumped up and ran.
"What's the matter?"
Seated up in bed, terrified, she was passing her hands over her brow and eyelids, as though to thrust off something that tormented her. She fixed large, haggard eyes on her lover. Then, with an abrupt gesture, she threw her arms round his neck, covered his face with kisses and tears.
"What's the matter? What's the matter?" he asked, astonished, uneasy.
"Nothing, nothing——"
"Why are you crying?"
"I had a dream——"
"What did you dream? Tell me!"
Instead of replying, she clasped him close, kissed him again.
He seized her wrists, disengaged himself from her grasp, tried to look in her face.