The girl stared at him for a moment, and then went.
He stole noiselessly after her and waited outside the door. Presently the door opened, and Nanette beckoned to him to enter. He went in, and found himself alone with Madame De Vigne.
‘Pardon the question, madame,’ said Jules; ‘but may I ask whether the gentleman—Monsieur De Miravel he calls himself—who left this room a few minutes ago is a friend of madame?’
Madame became suddenly interested. ‘I have been acquainted with the person you name for a great number of years,’ she replied after a moment’s hesitation.
‘Madame would not like any harm to happen to Monsieur De Miravel?’
‘Harm? No; certainly not. I should not like harm to happen to any one. But your question is a strange one. Tell me why you ask it.’
‘I ask it, because Monsieur De Miravel is in danger of his life.’
‘Ah!’ Her heart gave a great leap; she turned suddenly dizzy, and had to support herself against the table.
‘I have told this to madame in order that she may warn Monsieur De Miravel, should she think well to do so. If he wishes to save his life, he must leave here at once—to-night; to-morrow may be too late.’
Mora was thoroughly bewildered. What she had just been told had the effect of a stunning blow upon her; it had come so suddenly that for a little while her mind failed to realise the full meaning of the words.