At that moment d'Haumont ceased to wave his arms, and uttered a hollow groan as though he had received a blow in the stomach. The man on the other hand did not utter a word. He picked up his hat, rammed it on his head, and went on his way.
"The Parisian!" cried Captain d'Haumont in a choking voice. "The Parisian!"
And he retraced his steps staggering like a drunken man.
[CHAPTER XIX]
A BAD NIGHT FOLLOWED BY BAD DAYS
Didier met the two women at the corner of the street almost frightened out of their senses. He calmed them in a faltering voice. The man, he said, had rushed away as soon as he caught sight of him. The d'Haumonts at once took leave of Giselle, who implored them to forgive her foolish outburst.
In the taxi in which they drove back to Cape Ferrat, Didier and Françoise exchanged but an occasional remark. She was in a state of depression. She thought that her husband would be annoyed with her for her remarks regarding his exaggerated kindness to Giselle.
She took his hand in hers, and was no little surprised and even alarmed to feel that it was icy cold.
"Oh, good gracious, how cold you are! Aren't you well, dear?"
"Yes, yes, I am quite well, I assure you."