‘Monsieur De Miravel is at liberty to wait upon Sir William at once,’ said Madame De Vigne in clear, staccato tones.—‘Nanette, conduct monsieur to Sir William’s apartment.’
Laroche scowled at her for a moment. Then he said in a low voice: ‘Do you set me at defiance? Is it really that I am to tell Sir William everything?’
‘Yes; I set you at defiance. Tell Sir William all that you know. Scélerat! do your worst.’
The scowl on his face deepened; his lips twitched, but no sound came from them. Madame De Vigne’s finger pointed to the open door at which Nanette was standing. Laroche turned on his heel and walked out of the room with the air of a whipped cur.
By this time it was nearly dark; the evening was close and sultry; distant thunder reverberated among the hills; there was the menace of a storm in the air. The grounds of the hotel were deserted, and just at present the house was as quiet as though it were some lonely country mansion, instead of a huge hostelry overflowing with guests. It was the hour consecrated to one of the most solemn duties of existence, and, with few exceptions, the flock of more or less hungry birds of passage were engaged in the pleasing process of striving to recuperate exhausted nature by means of five courses and a dessert.
Nanette, after conducting Laroche to Sir William’s room, was on her way back to light the lamp in her mistress’s boudoir, when, as she turned a corner of the corridor, she was suddenly confronted by Jules, between whom and herself, as being of the same nationality, a pleasant little flirtation was already in full swing. The meeting was so sudden and the corridor so dusky, that the girl started, and a low cry broke from her lips.
‘Hist! do not make a noise, I beg of you, ma’amselle,’ whispered Jules; ‘but tell me, is madame in her room and alone?’ His face looked very pale in the twilight, and Nanette could see that he was strangely moved.
‘Madame is in her room, but she is indisposed, and cannot see any one this evening—unless,’ she added archly, a moment after, ‘the business of monsieur with her is of very, very great importance.’
‘Ah, believe me, dear ma’amselle, it is of the very greatest importance. Do not delay, I beg of you! Any moment I may be missed from the salle and asked for. Tell madame that the affair I want to see her upon is one of life and death.’