and
subdued; and his relief was evident when, after the coffee had been
served, his wife exclaimed: "We won't keep you from your club, my dear.
I want a chat with our dear child."

Since she dismissed the General so unceremoniously, Madame de Fondege
evidently wished for a tete-a-tete with Mademoiselle Marguerite. At
least Madame Leon thought so, or feigned to think so, and addressing the
young girl, she said: "I shall be obliged to leave you for a couple of
hours, my dear young lady. My relatives would never forgive me if I did
not inform them of my change of residence."

This was the first time since she had been engaged by the Count de
Chalusse, that the estimable "companion" had ever made any direct
allusion to her relatives, and what is more, to relatives residing in
Paris. She had previously only spoken of them in general terms, giving
people to understand that her relatives had not been unfortunate like
herself--that they still retained their exalted rank, though she had
fallen, and that she found it difficult to decline the favors they
longed to heap upon her.

However, Mademoiselle Marguerite evinced no surprise. "Go at once and
inform your relatives, my dear Leon," she said, without a shade of
sarcasm in her manner. "I hope they won't be offended by your devotion
to me." But in her secret heart, she thought: "This hypocrite is going
to report to the Marquis de Valorsay, and these relatives of hers will
furnish her with excuses for future visits to him."

The General went off, the servants began to clear the table, and
Mademoiselle Marguerite followed her hostess to the drawing-room. It was
a lofty and spacious apartment, lighted by three windows, and even more
sumptuous in its appointments than the dining-room. Furniture, carpets,
and hangings, were all in rather poor taste, perhaps, but costly, very
costly. As the evening was a cold one, Madame de Fondege ordered the
fire to be lighted. She seated herself on a sofa near the mantelpiece,
and when Mademoiselle Marguerite had taken a chair opposite her, she
began, "Now, my dear child, let us have a quiet talk."

Mademoiselle Marguerite expected some important communication, so that
she was not a little surprised when Madame de Fondege resumed: "Have you
thought about your mourning?"

"About my mourning, madame?"

"Yes. I mean, have you decided what dresses you will purchase? It is
an important matter, my dear--more important than you suppose. They are