“Go and fetch madame’s mother,” said Louise to the cook. “Quick—run!”
“If I knew where to find Steinbock, I would go and fetch him!” exclaimed Stidmann in despair.
“He is with that woman!” cried the unhappy wife. “He was not dressed to go to his work!”
Stidmann hurried off to Madame Marneffe’s, struck by the truth of this conclusion, due to the second-sight of passion.
At that moment Valerie was posed as Delilah. Stidmann, too sharp to ask for Madame Marneffe, walked straight in past the lodge, and ran quickly up to the second floor, arguing thus: “If I ask for Madame Marneffe, she will be out. If I inquire point-blank for Steinbock, I shall be laughed at to my face.—Take the bull by the horns!”
Reine appeared in answer to his ring.
“Tell Monsieur le Comte Steinbock to come at once, his wife is dying—”
Reine, quite a match for Stidmann, looked at him with blank surprise.
“But, sir—I don’t know—did you suppose——”
“I tell you that my friend Monsieur Steinbock is here; his wife is very ill. It is quite serious enough for you to disturb your mistress.” And Stidmann turned on his heel.