"Yes," answered Natalie, very quietly, "it is."
Madam's rather flushed face grew white, and her eyes blazed with passion. She clenched her fists and beat the air with them.
"Oh, the liar!" she cried, "the liar! Oh! it is hard to be treated like this when I have done so much for him."
Natalie drew back, startled and amazed.
"I assure you that you need have no fear so far as I am concerned. Both my brother and myself have refused to comply with that condition, and we shall refuse to the end."
Madame, however, paid but little heed to Natalie; she was beside herself with rage.
"Ah, ah!" she cried, "wait till he returns! I'll kill him! I'll kill him!"
So distorted with fury was the woman's face that Natalie became alarmed for her sanity. She drew near to her and endeavoured to catch her hands in her own, imploring her to be calm.
By-and-by Madame Estelle listened to her, and in a sudden revulsion of feeling fell on her knees, sobbing bitterly.
Natalie bent over her, doing her best to console her, and presently, as the woman grew calmer, she endeavoured to turn the situation to her own advantage.