‘Monsieur de Grasse——’
‘Madame la Marquise come to my rescue! I too would fain hear the historiette!’
‘Nolo episcopari, hein?’
‘Now, then, be obedient, and get you to Marie-Julie!’
‘Where can I take refuge?’
‘If there were a hazel-nut at hand, ’twould serve your purpose.’
‘No, Madame la Marquise, permit me to hide within your locket.’
‘As you will. Now, Madame, we are all attention.’
Throughout this fooling, Madeleine had sat with aching jaws stretched into a smile, trying desperately hard not to look out of it. They all looked towards Madame Cornuel, who sat smiling in unruffled silence.