And she weighed the situation, accusing herself of having been too gay and too familiar at Royat, thinking just now that her sister was right, that she was compromised, lost! The carriage rolled along the road. Paul and Gontran smoked in silence; the Marquis slept; Christiane gazed at the stars; and Charlotte found it hard to keep back her tears—for she had swallowed three glasses of champagne.
When they had got back, Christiane said to her father: "As it is dark, you have to see this young girl home."
The Marquis, without delay, offered her his arm, and went off with her.
Paul laid his hands on Gontran's shoulders, and whispered in his ear: "Come and have five minutes' talk with your sister and myself."
And they went up to the little drawing-room communicating with the apartments of Andermatt and his wife.
When they were seated, Christiane said: "Listen! M. Paul and I want to give you a good lecture."
"A good lecture! But about what? I'm as wise as an image for want of opportunities."
"Don't trifle! You are doing a very imprudent and very dangerous thing without thinking on it. You are compromising this young girl."
He appeared much astonished. "Who is that? Charlotte?"
"Yes, Charlotte!"