Beauregard laughed ironically as he rejoined:
"Oh, yes! it gave her pleasure; and there was another reason too, I'll wager! Did you go to the ball alone?"
"No, I went with two friends of mine—Freluchon and Edmond Didier."
"Edmond Didier! good! now we are on the track; I understand it all now."
"What! what track are you on?"
"I'll stake my head that Thélénie questioned you closely on the subject of Monsieur Edmond."
"Why, yes; she asked me very often whom he was with, if his mistress was pretty——"
"That's it; and she forbade you to mention her to those gentlemen?"
"Really, it is extraordinary how you guess everything, monsieur; how you read Madame Sainte-Suzanne's thoughts!"
"It's because I've known her a long while, as I told you just now! I have been in a position to study her character, her sentiments and her mind. You asked me if I were intimately acquainted with this lady—Well, my dear monsieur—I beg pardon, but I don't know your name."