XIII
The drama shifted to Geneva, where heroine preceded hero by a few hours, charged to be silent till her parents had personally experienced Lassalle's fascinations. He had scarcely taken possession of his room in the Pension Bovet when a maidservant brought in a letter from Helene, and ere he had time to do more than break the envelope, Helene herself burst in.
"Take me away, take me away," she cried hysterically.
He flew to support her.
"What has happened?"
"I cannot bear it. I cannot fight them. Save me, my king, my master. Let us fly across the frontier—to Paris." She clung to him wildly.
Sternness gathered on his brow.
"Then you have disobeyed me!" he said. "Why?"
"I have written you," she sobbed.
He laid her gently on the bed, and ran his eye through the long, hysteric letter.