She heard his footstep again; it reached the door; the door opened--closed; she heard his footstep again; was he gone?
He was gone.
The two women threw themselves into each other's arms and wept. Presently Clotilde left the room. She came back in a moment from the rear apartment, with a bonnet and veil in her hands.
"No," said Aurora, rising quickly, "I must do it."
"There is no time to lose," said Clotilde. "It will soon be dark."
It was hardly a minute before Aurora was ready to start. A kiss, a sorrowful look of love exchanged, the veil dropped over the swollen eyes, and Aurora was gone.
A minute passed, hardly more, and--what was this?--the soft patter of Aurora's knuckles on the door.
"Just here at the corner I saw Palmyre leaving her house and walking down the rue Royale. We must wait until morn--"
Again a footfall on the doorstep, and the door, which was standing ajar, was pushed slightly by the force of the masculine knock which followed.
"Allow me," said the voice of Honoré Grandissime, as Aurora bowed at the door. "I should have handed you this; good-day."