"But where is he?" said Francine, disengaging herself, "I wish to see him."
Irène started. Alas! amid all these emotions she had forgotten the sad truth that the brother, whom Francine ardently desired to embrace, was in a narrow cell, crushed under the accusation of an attempt on the life of the king.
"Why do you not tell me where I can find him?" asked Francine, her eyes bright with fever.
At this moment the door opened, and a tall and stately individual, known as Madame Ursula, made a sign to Irène, who instantly obeyed the summons, glad to avoid the necessity of replying to Francine's questions.
"What is it?" she said.
Madame Ursula was unchanged. She was still in a constant state of horror at Irène's conduct and defiance of conventionalities.
"A very strange looking man wishes to speak to the young lady."
"She can not receive him," replied Irène, promptly.
"So I supposed, but I delivered the message because I thought she knew this person, and I myself have seen him before." Madame Ursula looked down in some confusion. "He was pretending to be a frog, on a certain occasion—"
"I do not understand you."