Marthe surprised her glance and cried, with an admiration free from all envy:
"You are splendid, Suzanne! You look like a triumphant goddess. What triumph have you achieved?"
Suzanne flushed and, in her confusion, said, at random:
"But you, Marthe, you look worried...."
"Well, yes ... perhaps I am."
And Marthe told how, on the previous evening, finding herself alone with her mother-in-law, she had spoken to her of Philippe's new ideas, the spirit of his work, his plan of resigning his position and his firm intention to have an explanation with M. Morestal.
"Well?"
"Well," said Marthe, "my mother-in-law flew out. She absolutely objects to any explanation whatever."
"Why?"
"M. Morestal is suffering from heart-trouble. Dr. Borel, who has attended him for the last twenty years, says that he must be spared any annoyance, any excessive excitement. And an interview with Philippe might have fatal results.... What can one reply to that?"