“A glass of water. Thanks!”
She retreated and kept her eyes lowered.
“Fadette, you are charming. Has any one ever told you that?”
“O, Monsieur!” blushing.
“Have they?” lessening the distance between them.
“Sometimes,” faintly. She could not withstand his glance, so she retired a few more steps, only to find herself up with the wall.
With a laugh he sprang forward and caught her face between his hands and imprinted a kiss on her left cheek. Suddenly she wrenched herself loose, uttered a frightened cry and fled down the pantryway.
“What's the matter with the girl?” he muttered aloud. “I wanted to ask her some questions.”
“Ask them of me, Monsieur,” said a voice from the doorway.
Maurice wheeled. It was Madame, but her face expressed nothing. He saw that he had been caught. The humor of the situation got the better of him, and he laughed. Madame ignored this unseemly hilarity.