The tone in which the young man spoke, his agitated manner, the pallor of his cheeks, alarmed the maid, who replied:
"Madame is at home, monsieur, and I would certainly tell her that you are here, but—at this moment—I don't dare to go in—because——"
"Because—well, go on."
"Because madame is not alone. There's a gentleman with her."
"A gentleman! What gentleman? It can't be Count Dahlborne, for I have just left him, and he is wounded."
"No, monsieur; it isn't Count Dahlborne."
"Well, then, who is it? Tell me, Rosa. Here, take this, and conceal nothing from me."
Albert resorted to the irresistible argument; he took several gold pieces from his pocket and put them in the servant's hand, and thereby completely loosed her tongue; indeed, she had a tender regard for the young man, because he was an exceedingly comely youth, and with many women, especially young women, that, too, is an irresistible argument.
"Well, monsieur," replied Rosa, speaking very low, "madame is with that tall young man—one of your friends, I think, as I have met him sometimes walking with you."
"What! can it be Célestin?"