“Melun!” cried the woman, stretching out her hand, “what is it?”
“I don't know,” he said hoarsely; “I wish I did, but the Premier's gone.”
“Gone! What do you mean?”
“He is lost. Westerham kidnapped him.”
“Impossible!”
“Impossible, you fool!” shouted the captain, irritably. “It's true—perfectly true!”
He walked into the hall and sank exhausted into a chair. “As for me,” he grumbled, “I have had the narrowest escape I ever had.”
“So that's all, is it?” cried Mme. Estelle, remembering her own grievance. “So that's all!
“But what of me? What do you think I have gone through? What do you think I have suffered? What do you think I have found out?”