“You know, my dear fellow, La Croix, I am a very good boy and I like to try and give pleasure by appearing to believe what I am told, but I can’t swallow that!”
Our little conversation had taken us, the actor and myself, into a corner of the drawing-room near the hall door, which was open. I judged that poor Camille would not be long in leaving, and that the best thing would be for me to wait for her outside and speak to her then so that Bonnivet’s eyes would not be fixed upon us during our talk. If no unfortunate accident happened I felt sure that now Queen Anne would arrange to definitely withdraw from the intrigue. I was quite sure, too, that Jacques would not be the one to end the affair. I knew his self-control. He would not betray himself. I knew that outbursts like Camille’s are at once followed by prostration, and I felt sure that she had allowed herself to be taken to the buffet like a cowed animal. Senneterre and Bressoré, the other two witnesses who had understood all the secrets of this scene, were not the men to let their perspicacity be apparent. One loved Madam de Bonnivet too sincerely, the other was too preoccupied in playing his part as the correct artist. Only I myself was likely by my nervousness to betray my knowledge. I therefore glided between two groups towards the staircase, and as I was doing so felt my hand seized. It was Molan, who said in a jerky voice—
“Let us leave together. I want to speak to you.”
“I am going at once,” I replied.
“So am I; the coast is clear, let us be off.”
We went downstairs without exchanging a word. We put on our coats in silence under the critical eyes of the footmen. It was not till we reached the street that Jacques said to me, while he clutched my arm with a force which proved his anger—
“Were you present at the scene? Did you see what that infamous actress dared to do to me?”
“I saw that she had her revenge,” I told him. “Frankly, you well deserved it, both you and Madam de Bonnivet. But still it had no consequences and no one perceived her intentions.”
“No one? Did you take Madam de Bonnivet for a fool, and her husband too? Do you think he did not see through it all? As Camille knew, too, his jealous disposition after the risk she had seen me run, it was infamous, I tell you, it was abominable. But I will teach her that I am not to be laughed at like that,” he went on with increasing violence. As he uttered this threat he turned back towards the house we had just left, and I had to hold him back by the arm while I said—
“Surely you are not going back there to make a scene?”