Sophie, frightened, turned round and met her infuriated look. She did not move, however.
"Leave this room at once. What do you want here?" Christine said, between gasps of anger.
"The room is as much mine as yours," answered Sophie, sullenly.
"The man isn't," retorted Christine, with a vicious snap of her teeth.
"Come, come," said Ferrol, in a soothing tone, rising from the sofa and advancing.
"What's he to you?" said Sophie, scornfully.
"My husband: that's all!" answered Christine. "And now, if you please, will you go to yours? You'll find him at mass. He'll have plenty of praying to do if he prays for you both—voila!"
"Your husband!" said Sophie, in a husky voice, dumfounded and miserable.
"Is that so?" she added to Ferrol. "Is she-your wife?"
"That's the case," he answered, "and, of course," he added in a mollifying tone, "being my sister as well as Christine's, there's no reason why you shouldn't be alone with me in the room a few moments. Is there now?" he added to Christine.
The acting was clever enough, but not quite convincing, and Christine was too excited to respond to his blarney.