"You will be silent upon the subject of to-night's—misadventure?..."
She answered:
"I will be silent, Monseigneur!"
He said, lifting a finger to detain her yet another instant:
"Do not err in supposing me ungrateful. I know very well that you have saved my life!"
A shudder passed through her slight figure. She averted her eyes, remembering.... He finished:
"I lunch with the King at the Prefecture to-morrow. I will see you before I leave the house."
"As you will, Monseigneur!"
He added with something like a twinkle:
"With regard to all that ... débris upon the landing ... it will not be the first time Niederstedt has been guilty in that way. Good night, Mademoiselle—or, rather, good morning.... Hark! Was not that the bell of the house door?"