"Fais ce que dois, advienne que pourra!"
Louis was thunderstruck at seeing Madeleine. He had not spoken a word to her for several days, and intended to maintain a reserve full of circumspection towards her. His connection with the family had twice given rise to the most malevolent interpretations, and he by no means wished a similar vexation to be repeated. He received the young girl with a coldness that was almost rude.
"What do you wish?" said he.
"To speak with you, monsieur. But I fear I have come at the wrong time. I will return at a later hour."
"Not later, but elsewhere."
"Why?" asked Madeleine, with naïveté.
"But what have you so urgent to tell me?..."
"Nothing concerning you, monsieur; it only relates to myself. I am so unhappy.... If I ventured to come here at this hour, it is because I feared being seen talking with you. I have a secret to confide to you which my parents alone are aware of. If they knew I told you, I do not know what they would do to me."
"Where are your parents now?"
"At my cousin's, a league off. They will not be back for several hours."