"Eight weeks, at least, madame—before the coming of Monsieur Chapuis."
"Bon!" said Gabrielle. "We cable another tip at once."
(For it may be noted, in passing, that she had one source of income which La Belle Thaïs little suspected!)
"What does Boule-de-Boue do to-night?" she demanded again.
"Dines at home with Monsieur Chapuis," replied the omniscient Mathilde, "dances at the Fol' Berg' at eleven, sups at Paillard's with Monsieur Chapuis."
(For it may also be noted, in passing, that the maid of La Belle Thaïs had one source of income which her mistress totally ignored!)
"Très bien!" said Gabrielle. "Now a pen and paper, the inkstand, envelopes, sealing wax, and a telegraph form, and write as I tell thee."
For ten minutes Mathilde wrote rapidly, and then spread the results of her exertions out before her, in the shape of two notes and a cablegram, and read them aloud triumphantly. The first note was directed to Monsieur Charles Chapuis, at the Hôtel du Rhin, place Vendôme:—
"If Monsieur Chapuis is a man of honor," it ran briefly, "he will break all engagements, however important, for this evening, and present himself chez Mademoiselle Gabrielle de Poirier at seven o'clock, on a matter intimately touching the good fame of his family. The sister of Monsieur, Mademoiselle Louise Chapuis, is chez Mademoiselle de Poirier."