"H'm, what does that mean?" exclaimed a solid-looking citizen as he saw Louison go up the stairs; "is the performance over?"
"No," said Aube to his guests, "Louison will sing more later on. Have a little patience."
When the landlord and the young girl entered the room of the young men, Aube was agreeably surprised at seeing that the vicomte had disappeared. He was perfectly calm now. It had been the vicomte of whom Aube had been afraid, and with a light heart he left the apartment.
"'Marquise,' will you be so kind as to sing us a song?" asked Arthur, politely.
Louison's modesty began to have a good influence on him, and he already regretted having assisted Talizac in his plan.
Louison tuned her instrument and then began to sing a pretty little air. Montferrand and Velletri listened attentively, and when she had ended they both asked her in the most polite way imaginable to sing another song. Louison did not wait to be coaxed; she began a simple ballad and sang it with melting sweetness. Suddenly she uttered a loud scream and let her guitar fall. Frederic de Talizac stood before her.
"Continue your song, my pretty child," giggled the vicomte; "I hope I have not frightened you?"
As he said this he tried to put his arm around Louison's waist.
She recoiled as if stung by a rattlesnake.
"I will not sing any more," she said firmly; "let me go."