He seemed to await an opportunity to leave the studio, and since Vaudrey had arrived he had only spoken a few brief phrases in strict propriety.
Marianne, all smiles and happy, with beaming eyes, interrogated Vaudrey and sought to provide a subject of conversation for the unexpected interview of these two men. Was there a great crowd at Collard's funeral? Who had sung at the ceremony? Vaudrey answered these questions rapidly, like a man absorbed in other thoughts.
After a moment's interval, Monsieur de Rosas arose and bowed to Marianne with gentlemanly formality.
"Are you going, my dear duke?"
"Yes, I have seen you again. You are getting along well. I am satisfied."
"You will come again, at any rate? My uncle has some new compositions to show you."
"Oh! great ideas," began Kayser. "Things that will make famous frescoes!—For a palace—or the Pantheon!—either one!"
He had looked alternately at the duke and Vaudrey.
Rosas bowed to the minister and withdrew without replying, followed by Kayser and Marianne who, on reaching the threshold of the salon, seized his hand and pressed it nervously within her own soft one and said quickly:
"You will return, oh! I beg you! Ah! it is too bad to have run away! You will come back!"