She must see him at once. Yes, Jules will guide her. He can go to the bank, after she has received her money. And then the double payment and vengeance on madame!
Like lightning, she muffles herself for the voyage. A coup‚, ten minutes, and above all—a silent exit. All is safe; the house sleeps. She steals to her lover. Jules Tessier starts, seeing Marie in the ante-room at the Caf‚ Ney. There are, even here, curious spies.
Marie's eyes are flashing; her bosom heaves. "Come instantly, Jules! it is the hour. My coup‚ is here."
"Mon Dieu, in an instant!" The sly Jules knows from her shaken voice the golden hoard is in danger.
In a few moments he is by her side in the coup‚. "Where to?" huskily asks the head-waiter.
"To the 'bal de minuit.' We can talk there."
"Allons! au Jardin Bullier," he cries.
Before the "fiacre" stops, Jules has an idea of the situation. Ah! a grand "coup." Jules is a genius!
Seated in a bosky arbor, the two talk in lowest tones over their chicken and Burgundy.
There is a noisy party in the next arbor, but a pair of dark Italian eyes peer like basilisks through the leaves of the tawdry shade. The lovers are unconscious of the listener.