“Monsieur Destival hasn’t been seen for three days, and nobody knows what’s become of him; he didn’t say where he was going. The negro and Baptiste have gone, too; but madame and her maid stayed behind. She’s at home now.”
Auguste went upstairs and was admitted by Julie. The young man noticed no change in the apartments, where it simply seemed more quiet than before. He was ushered into the presence of madame, who seemed a little embarrassed at sight of him.
“Can it be that the current report is true, madame?” Auguste asked. “I am told that your husband has gone away, that he has left France!”
“Alas! it is only too true, monsieur,” replied Emilie, sinking into an easy-chair.
“What, madame! has he gone, not to return?”
“I think so, monsieur. He has abandoned me; he is an abominable man!”
“And do you know what he has taken with him, madame?”
“No, monsieur; I knew absolutely nothing about his business.”
“Two hundred and fifty thousand francs! It is almost all that I possessed.”
“Oh! that was shocking on his part!”