“You are very pale. Are you ill?”
“No, no, let me go out. I only wish to take the air a moment.”
Clement cast a rapid glance around the room, and then followed her into the garden:
“You were dancing just now?”
“Yes, and I did wrong.”
“Your partner left you before the waltz was over?”
“Yes.”
Clement remained thoughtful a few moments, and then said: “Gabrielle, pardon me if I am indiscreet, but I wish I dared ask you one question.”
“What a preamble! Did we not agree to speak freely to each other?”
“Well, will you tell me why Felix went away?”