Maurice was only moderately receptive of the idea
of a game of trente-et-un, but after consulting
the clock, he was reassured. “By ten o’clock
I shall be free.”
The next morning Marguerite had some difficulty in
waking her young mistress, who was sleeping soundly.
Esperance enquired as soon as her own eyes were well
opened, what kind of night her chaperone had passed.
“Deliciously restful, and you, my dear child,
how did you sleep?”
“I never woke once. Oh! what a sun.
Have you seen what a glorious day it is?”
“It is the forerunner of good news,” Jean
cried out from the next room.
“Who knows?” said Esperance.
The telephone at her bedside rung. Marguerite
picked up the receiver, and announced dejectedly,
“M. Meydieux wishes to speak to Mademoiselle.”
“My godfather in Brussels!... You see,
Jean, that I was right to doubt your omen.”
The young people burst out laughing.
“Really,” continued Esperance, “I
feel that he is going to spoil my trip here.
I don’t like him, and his advice never coincides
with that of my father, whom I love so much.”
Meantime M. Meydieux was getting impatient on the
telephone.
“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! I must talk to
her ... I will come to lunch, oh yes! but above
all I must talk to her.”
Esperance was motioning violently to Marguerite to
hang up the receiver, but Mlle. Frahender objected
to this lack of courtesy, so the young girl giving
way to her remonstrance yielded gracefully. She
even re-requested Marguerite, who knew her godfather’s
culinary preferences, to order a lunch that he would
like. Then she dressed in haste to allow herself
plenty of time to write to her family. They had
already exchanged telegrams, but she knew that her
father would like to have a long letter, giving him
the minutes, so to speak, of herself. A tender
gratitude swelled up in her, and her eyes were wet
as she evoked the image of these two beloved beings
reading her letter, commenting upon it, and entering
completely for those moments into the life of their
child. As soon as the letter was finished, she
asked Mlle. Frahender to go with her to post it,
so that she could herself speed it on its way to them.
She had a strong desire to get out-doors, even if
only for a half-hour.
As they turned into the square, Esperance stopped,
clutching her aged friend by the arm. “Look
there,” she said.
There were two men side by side in deep conversation.
Esperance had instantly recognized Count Albert and
her godfather. How did Adhemar Meydieux happen
to know the Secretary of the Legation?
