Florine muttered cringingly:
“I am sorry monsieur is angry, but it is the truth I speak. Madame was lonely and dissatisfied. What more natural than that she should fly from a cold husband to a devoted lover in her own land?”
An impulse came over him to strike down the impudent woman at his feet for those maddening words. He restrained himself with difficulty.
“She is foolish and ignorant,” he said to himself, and flung the letter toward her.
“Read that and see how you have misjudged your mistress!” he exclaimed.
He watched her closely, and he saw the plainest incredulity upon her face.
“What do you think now?” he asked.
“Monsieur does not wish my real opinion?” reluctantly.
“Yes.”
“Very well. I should believe this letter only that Madame Laurens made me bring her the daily paper today and read aloud the shipping news. There was one steamer that sailed tonight just before midnight.”