en to the ground if the baron had not
caught her in his arms and carried her to a sofa. "Help!" cried Madame
de Fondege, "help, she is dying!--a physician!"

But there was no need of a physician. One of the maids came with
some fresh water and a bottle of smelling salts, and Marguerite soon
recovered sufficiently to sit up, and cast a frightened glance around
her, while she mechanically passed her hand again and again over her
cold forehead. "Do you feel better my darling?" inquired Madame de
Fondege at last.

"Yes."

"Ah! you gave me a terrible fright; see how I tremble." But the worthy
lady's fright was as nothing in comparison with the curiosity that
tortured her. It was so powerful, indeed, that she could not control it.
"What has happened?" she asked.

"Nothing, madame, nothing."

"But----"

"I am subject to such attacks. I was very cold, and the heat of the room
made me feel faint."

Although she could only speak with the greatest difficulty, the baron
realized by her tone that she would never reveal what had taken place,
and his attitude and relief knew no bounds. "Don't tire the poor child,"
he said to Madame de Fondege. "The best thing you can do would be to
take her home and put her to bed."

"I agree with you; but unfortunately, I have sent away my brougham with
orders not to return for me until one o'clock."

"Is that the only difficulty? If so, you shall have a carriage at
once, my dear madame." So saying, the baron made a sign to one of the
servants, and the man started on his mission at once.

Madame de Fondege was silent but furious. "He is actually putting me out
of doors," she thought. "This is a little too much! And why doesn't the
baroness make her appearance--she must certainly have heard my voice?
What does it all mean? However, I'm sure Marguerite will tell me when we
are alone."

But Madame de Fondege was wrong, for she vainly plied the girl with
questions all the way from the Rue de la Ville l'Eveque to the Rue
Pigalle. She could only obtain this unvarying and obstinate reply:
"Nothing has happened. What do you suppose could have happened?"

Never in her whole life had Madame de Fondege been so incensed. "The
blockhead!" she mentally exclaimed. "Who ever saw such obstinacy!
Hateful creature!--I could beat her!"

She did not beat her, but on reaching the house she eagerly asked: "Do
you feel strong enough to go up stairs alone?"

"Yes, madame."

"Then I will leave you. You kn