"What did your mother answer?"
"Don't know. Believe she told 'em you were in your den."
The occurrence cast a chill over the company. Little Paulot was given a big glass of claret, and when he had left the Flirt observed gravely:
"Why should they come and inquire for me?"
Julie tried to console her.
"Anyhow they'll not come up to your place."
Josephine was greatly upset. Were they after her or Loupart? Why had they withdrawn? Would they come back?
In a flash she burst out, beating her fist on the table:
"Bah! I've had enough of this, not knowing what is going to happen from one moment to the next. Sooner than stay here, I'll go and find out."