Esperance was looking radiant. She had
dressed herself with particular care. He understood the tremors of her
heart and decided to keep watch in case she should need him.
When the girls came into the hall, the Duke was talking to Maurice,
and the Doctor to Francois Darbois. The gentlemen had not heard the
door open, but intuitively the Duke turned around.
Esperance met his burning eyes which were veiled by an expression that
suggested repentant submission. She inclined her head slowly and went
straight up to Doctor Potain, thanking him for coming, and apologizing
for having kept him waiting. Potain led her into her parents' room. He
was much disturbed by the uneven beating of her heart, stormier than
he had ever heard it.
"That is because I just rushed foolishly on my bicycle to see you,
Doctor. I recognized you a long way off. So...."
The Doctor looked closely at the young girl. Her eyes shone with
abnormal brightness. He sounded her, but found nothing wrong except
the irregularity of her heart. He sent Esperance back to the salon so
that he could talk with her father alone. The Duke hastened to
apologize for having come thus without notice. He was staying at the
Chateau of Castel-Montjoie with Doctor Potain, and when he heard that
the Doctor was leaving for Belle-Isle, he could not resist the
opportunity to come and ask pardon. He talked a long time, with
ardent, almost brotherly tenderness; asked when Esperance thought of
making her appearance at the Comedie-Francaise, urging her to play
_"Camille,"_ and spoke with considerable praise of Musset's
heroine.
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