"Well, it will be an honorable scar!—Pray consider, madame, that you might have been seriously burned; what does this amount to, compared with the danger by which you were threatened?"
She made no direct reply, but looked down at her dress and cried:
"It is impossible for me to go out in this condition; the whole skirt of my dress is burned. Is there no way of getting a cab?"
"Surely, madame," the druggist replied; "I will send for one for you."
"I shall be greatly obliged to you, monsieur."
Adhémar, the bandaging being completed, seemed to hesitate as to what he should do; but at last he bowed, and said to his companion:
"As you have no further need of my services, madame, I will take my leave of you."
The lady blushed slightly, but she detained Adhémar, saying with some hesitation:
"Excuse me, monsieur, for keeping you longer; but I should be very glad to know the name of the gentleman who risked his—who was badly burned in my service?—Mon Dieu! I am too presumptuous—I beg your pardon."
"There is nothing presumptuous in your request, madame; on the contrary, it is most flattering to me."