“No one knows anything about what, Monsieur?” said Bregeac.
“About what is happening; and it’s serious enough. If your step-daughter has not told you about it, perhaps she will admit that an explanation without witnesses would be preferable. What do you think, Mademoiselle?” said Marescal in a jeering tone.
Pale as death, still holding on to the bannisters, Aurelie seemed on the point of fainting.
Bregeac slipped an arm round her and held her up.
“Come on up,” he said, helping her up the stairs.
She let him do so. Marescal told his men to enter.
“Don’t stir out of the hall, any of you, and don’t let any one come in, or go out,” he said. He turned to Valentine and added: “Go into the kitchen and stay there.”
Valentine went.
“If there’s any trouble upstairs, I’ll whistle,” he said to his men. “And Sauvinoux will come to the rescue. Do you understand?”
“We understand,” said Labonce. [[200]]