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Arrayed in his best uniform, his thin legs encased in black silk stockings, his mantle thrown gracefully over his shoulders, and his cocked hat under his arm, he was looking anxiously about for some one in the assembled crowd to whom he could give the signal for departure. He was already talking of starting off when M. de Fondege appeared.
Madame de Fondege must have heard this, for at the same moment she entered the room. She was short, and very stout a faded blonde, with her complexion spoilt by a multitude of freckles. She had very large hands, broad, thick feet, and a shrill voice; and the vulgarity of her appearance was all the more noticeable on account of her pretensions to elegance.
"Great heavens!" exclaimed Madame de Fondege; "what has happened to my poor child?" For the unfortunate girl advanced with an automatic tread, her eyes fixed on vacancy, and her hands outstretched, as if feeling her way. It indeed seemed to her as if the floor swayed to and fro under her feet, as if the walls tottered, as if the ceiling were about to fall and crush her.
Madame de Fondege pointed to Mademoiselle Marguerite, and exclaimed: "Wait, at least, until I am alone before you speak to me on business." Madame Landoire shrugged her shoulders. "As if you were ever alone," she growled. "I wish to put an end to this." "Step into my room then, and we will put an end to it, and at once."
There was quite a crowd already. At least three or four hundred people had assembled in the Baron's reception-rooms, and among them were several former habitues of Madame d'Argeles's house; one could also espy M. de Fondege ferociously twirling his mustaches as usual, together with Kami-Bey, who was conspicuous by reason of his portly form and eternal red fez.
And she left the room without even turning her head, without even glancing at the baroness, who had fallen upon the floor in a deep swoon. Baron Trigault still held Madame de Fondege a prisoner in the hall. What did he say to her in justification of the expedient he had improvised?
"Where will you go?" "Alas! I don't know." Madame de Fondege raised her handkerchief to her eyes as if to wipe a furtive tear away, and then, almost roughly, she exclaimed: "I must tell you the truth, my child. Listen to me. I see only two courses for you to adopt. Either to ask the protection of some respectable family, or to enter a convent. This is your only hope of safety."
She therefore returned to them as soon as possible, excusing herself for her abrupt departure as well as she could; but she was not accustomed to deceive, and her embarrassment might have betrayed her had it not been for the General, who fortunately interrupted her by saying: "I, too, must excuse myself, my dear child; but Madame de Fondege will remain with you. I must fulfil a sacred duty.
So, in the sweetest of voices, and with a feigned humility of manner, she declared this little room to be even much too good for a poor widow whose misfortunes had compelled her to abdicate her position in society. The attentions which M. and Madame de Fondege showed her contributed not a little to her resignation.
"What!" gasped Madame de Fondege, "you haven't put this room in order, Justine?" "Indeed, madame, I haven't had time." "But it's more than a month since M. Gustave slept here?" "I know it; but madame must remember that I have been very much hurried this last month, having to do all the washing and ironing since the laundress " "That's sufficient," interrupted Madame de Fondege.
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