g...."

"What's her name?"

"Nadine," replied Redhead, and added: "A pretty little brat, too!...
She's got some fire in her eyes!"

"What's that to do with it?" interrupted Mother Toulouche.

"You don't mean to tell me you were able to make her gabble a bit?" she
queried contemptuously.

Redhead bridled: "Likely, since I know everything now ... and I'm her
sweetheart, let me tell you!"

Mother Toulouche said in a jeering tone:

"You don't tell me! You!"

"Oh," replied Redhead, "it's just a way of speaking. She's a good little
thing--there's nothing to it, you know!"

"So much the worse!" declared Mother Toulouche. "Virtuous sorts aren't
any use to our lot!... Well--what did she tell you--out with it!"

"Well," said Redhead, "I waited three-quarters of an hour before Nadine
joined me.... I had no bother in making her talk, I can tell you:
without the asking she told me everything ... she was pretty well
flabbergasted with all the jewels her mistress had stuck on her clothes
and her skin.... Seems there's hundreds of thousands' worth!... All
pearls and diamonds! Nothing but...."

Mother Toulouche was calculating:

"Real pearls, real diamonds--it's possible there's all that worth!"

Steps could be heard on the pavement just outside.

Redhead began to shake all over:

"Who is it?" he asked. "Someone coming in?"

Mother Toulouche grinned:

"Be easy, then! Haven't I told you there's nothing to fear?"

Nevertheless he asked anxiously:

"There's nothing more I'm wanted for here, is there? I've told you all I
know."

"No, no, it's all right!" replied Mother Toulouche, maternal and
conciliating, "there's nothing more for you to do here.... Still, if you
want to see big Ernestine...."

Without waiting to hear the end of her sentence Redhead hurried towards
the exit. Mother Toulouche did not try to detain him:

"After all," she said in a low tone to his back as a kind of farewell,
"cut your sticks, my lad ... since you're funky!"

When alone she grumbled aloud:

"What a lot they are!... I never did!... White-livered, and for nothing
at all!"

Mother Toulouche was still muttering when big Ernestine marched in
through the back way. She had on a large hat and was heavily veiled. She
proceeded to remove both hat and veil:

"Well?" she queried.

"They've got on to it all right! Redhead has just gone! He knows through
the little maid that the Princess went off to the ball, dressed up to
the nines--hun