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Frahender and Mlle. Esperance Darbois will join them for supper after the play, at midnight, at their house." "But I cannot accept without the permission of my father," said Esperance. The raucous and heavy voice of the godfather pronounced, "I will assume the responsibility. Your mother encouraged me to watch over you. I consider that this is an honour which you should not decline."
"Tell him that I am not up yet, and ask him to lunch with us at twelve-thirty. Then," she explained to Mlle. Frahender, who had just come into her room, all powdered, all pinned and bonneted for the morning, "he will not dare to bother me when everybody else is present." Marguerite was still answering M. Meydieux's excited questions: "What! at half-past nine not up, that is shameful!
Frahender adjusted her hat, after having carefully folded up her bonnet, and Maurice helped Marguerite to count the pieces of luggage. Just as Esperance was getting out to help her old companion, she had a feeling of reaction, her face grew pale with fright at an impression she could not define: two long arms were stretched towards her.
After that she determined to climb on to a great plain that she saw ahead. She thought she was safe when all at once she saw arising on every side the frightful tentacles which crept along her hiding-place, viscous and black, nearer, near enough to touch her. An indescribable terror brought her to her feet with a cry for help! Mile. Frahender and Marguerite came running in.
The young girl was touched, and raising herself in bed, flung her arms about the old lady. "What a dear you are, and how I love you!" Mlle. Frahender at that moment had her reward for all the little sacrifices she had made for her pupil.
Frahender beside her, had asked, "How is Count Albert?" And in spite of the protests of both women, she had got up. She wanted to be sure, she wanted to see! The wounded man looked at her fixedly. "Tell me that I am not dreaming," he implored. "Albert," she murmured, going up to him, "I owe you my life." She knelt beside the bed and her delicate hand rested on his strong hand.
Esperance was wild with excitement. The time of waiting for the event seemed interminable to her. Her father tried in vain to calm her with philosophical reflections. Creature of feeling and impulse that she was, nothing could control her excitement. Sardou had also asked Francois Darbois to invite Mlle. Frahender, whose generous spirit and whose tact and judgment he much esteemed.
Frahender had heard the complete revelation. Jeanette knew too, but Genevieve, who understood that she was there to keep the Duke informed, found her very docile and repentant and did not send her away. The Countess, to whom they had sent a daily bulletin for three weeks, found that Esperance, if not cured, was at least on the way to convalescence.
Only, some flatter their passions and refuse to assert themselves against them! This weakness opens the door to all other concessions, and then it becomes difficult to make a loyal examination of our conscience." "Is that my case?" asked the young girl with some anxiety. "Perhaps," replied Mlle. Frahender, frankly.
The Darbois had not cared to leave their box. After every act, Mlle. Frahender carried their comments and tender messages to Esperance. Francois Darbois had great difficulty in constraining himself to remain in the noisy vestibule. He suffered too acutely at seeing his daughter, that pure and delicate child, the focus of every lorgnette, the subject of every conversation.
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