"Oh, well!" exclaimed Bijou, laughing, "it will be much better like that, we shall have it altogether, once for all, at any rate."
Just as dinner was announced, M. de Rueille entered the room. He had an absent-minded look, and his eyes shone strangely. He took his seat silently at table, and did not talk during the meal.
III.
Bijou, assisted by Pierrot, was handing the coffee round, when suddenly she darted off in pursuit of Paul de Rueille, who had just come out of the drawing-room, and was descending the steps which led on to the terrace.
"Stop, stop! Where are you going?" she called out.
"Oh, only for a stroll," he answered, without looking round, "to get a breath of air, if that is possible with this heat."
Bijou had already caught him up.
"Oh, no, what about the play?—You must come and work."