The cab rolled along the street. George took one of the young girl's
hands and began to kiss it slowly and with respect. He scarcely knew
what to say to her, being scarcely accustomed to platonic love-making.
But all at once he thought he noted that she was crying. He inquired,
with alarm: "What is the matter with you, darling?"
She replied in tearful tones: "Poor mamma, she will not be able to sleep
if she has found out my departure."
Her mother, indeed, was not asleep.
As soon as Susan had left the room, Madame Walter remained face to face
with her husband. She asked, bewildered and cast down: "Good heavens!
What is the meaning of this?"
Walter exclaimed furiously: "It means that that schemer has bewitched
her. It is he who made her refuse Cazolles. He thinks her dowry worth
trying for." He began to walk angrily up and down the room, and went
on: "You were always luring him here, too, yourself; you flattered him,
you cajoled him, you could not cosset him enough. It was Pretty-boy
here, Pretty-boy there, from morning till night, and this is the return
for it."