"Quite?"
The men shrugged their shoulders.
"Oh! after that length of time for certain."
Then one of them asked:
"Was it at the Grillon that he lodged?"
"Yes," answered the other; "we had better take him back there, there will be something to be made of it."
They embarked again in their boat and set out, moving off slowly on account of the rapid current; and yet, a long time after they were out of sight, from the place where the women remained, the regular splash of the oars in the water could be heard.
Then Pauline took the poor weeping Madeleine in her arms, petted her, embraced her for a long while, consoled her.
"What would you have; it is not your fault, is it? It is impossible to prevent men committing folly. He wished it, so much the worse for him, after all!"
And then lifting her up: