“At your pleasure, grandfather,” said Mademoiselle, and then she actually began to sing that little love song again. The courage of that girl was superb! It made me love her more madly than before.
“I am glad to find you home,” said the Duke, “for I have brought you some papers which require your signature. I intended to leave them until morning, but unless you feel inclined to retire——”
“No, Monsieur, I never felt so wide awake in my life,” answered Mademoiselle.
“Good! I will leave them here then. Éspiau will explain them to you, and we can finish the discussion in the morning. I am tired and feel the need of rest. Good night.”
“Good night, grandfather,” said Mademoiselle; “may you rest well.”
“Good night, my child,” said the old man, relaxing for the moment the formality of his address as he took her hand, drew her toward him, pressed a kiss upon her forehead, bowed to her as to a queen and walked away.
The two left within the boudoir moved not until the echo of the Duke’s footsteps died away in the distance of the corridor.
“Mademoiselle,” at last began Éspiau in a voice in which sorrow and affection strove for the mastery.
“Judge me not,” said Mademoiselle quickly.
“Who is that man?”