"Not to-night!"
"Take me to the Bel Avenir," she said, and sent the carriage away.
De Fronsac, looking back as they departed, was distressed to see the young man risking his life.
At the Bel Avenir their entrance made a sensation. She removed her cloak, and Pitou arranged it over two chairs. Then she threw her gloves out of the way, in the bread-basket; and the waiter and the proprietress, and all the family, did homage to her toilette.
"Who would have supposed?" she smiled, and her smile forgot to be mysterious.
"That the restaurant would be so proud?"
"That I should be supping with you in it! Tell me, you had no hope of this on your journey? It was true about your journey, hein?"
"Ah, really! No, how could I hope? I went round after your dance simply to see you closer; and then I met de Fronsac, and then—"
"And then you were very cheeky. Answer! Why do I interest you? Because of what they say of me?"
"Not altogether."