CHAPTER XLV
HOW CARMEN KEEPS HER WORD
If Carmen had not hoped to serve Gontram and his friends she would have left the Larsagny palace at once, but under existing circumstances prudence prompted her to stay and not to repulse the banker entirely; for she suspected that Larsagny held in his hand the threads of the mystery which threatened the Vicomte of Monte-Cristo. Carmen did not have much time to think, for hardly an hour after Gontram had gone, the banker appeared in the boudoir, and looking with astonishment at her, he said:
"What does this mean, Carmen? Our guests will soon be here, and you are not yet dressed."
"Our guests?" repeated Carmen, in amazement.
"Yes. Have you forgotten that the ball for which you yourself sent out invitations ten days ago, takes place to-night?"
"Really, I had forgotten all about it," stammered Carmen. "It is all the same, though; I have a headache and shall remain in my room."
"But, Carmen, what shall we do if you do not appear?"
"That is not my affair," replied Carmen, laconically.