asin,andtwolargewhitechinacups.WhileM.Peletemployedhimselfinchoosingacigarfromabox,mythoughtsrevertedtothetwooutcastushers,whosevoicesIcouldhearevennowcryinghoarselyfororderintheplayground.
“C’estunegranderesponsabilite,quelasurveillance,”observedI.
“Plait-il?”ditM.Pelet.
IremarkedthatIthoughtMessieursVandamandKintmustsometimesbealittlefatiguedwiththeirlabours.
“Desbetesdesomme,—desbetesdesomme,”murmuredscornfullythedirector.MeantimeIofferedhimhiscupofcoffee.
“Servez-vousmongarcon,”saidheblandly,whenIhadputacoupleofhugelumpsofcontinentalsugarintohiscup.“AndnowtellmewhyyoustayedsolongatMdlle.Reuter’s.Iknowthatlessonsconclude,inherestablishmentasinmine,atfouro’clock,andwhenyoureturneditwaspastfive.”
“Mdlle.wishedtospeakwithme,monsieur.”
“Indeed!onwhatsubject?ifonemayask.”
“Mademoiselletalkedaboutnothing,monsieur.”
“Afertiletopic!anddidshediscoursethereonintheschoolroom,beforethepupils?”
“Nolikeyou,monsieur,sheaskedmetowalkintoherparlour.”
“AndMadameReuter—theoldduenna—mymother’sgossip,wasthere,ofcourse?”
“No,monsieurIhadthehonourofbeingquitealonewithmademoiselle.”
“C’estjoli—cela,”observedM.Pelet,andhesmiledandlookedintothefire.
“Honisoitquimalypense,”murmuredI,significantly.
“Jeconnaisunpeumapetitevoisine—voyez-vous.”
“Inthatcase,monsieurwillbeabletoaidmeinfindingoutwhatwasmademoiselle’sreasonformakingmesitbeforehersofaonemortalhour,listeningtothemostcopiousandfluentdissertationonthemerestfrivolities.”
“Shewassoundingyourcharacter.”
“Ithoughtso,monsieur.”
“Didshefindoutyourweakpoint?”
“Whatismyweakpoint?”
“Why,thesentimental.Anywomansinkinghershaftdeepenough,willatlastreachafathomlessspringofsensibilityinthybreast,Crimsworth.”
Ifeltthebloodstiraboutmyheartandrisewarmtomycheek.
“Somewomenmight,mo