"What! The Duchess de Castel-Montjoie is at Palais," she said. Then
she read: "My dear Philosopher, the Princess and I will come, if
agreeable to you, after five. I name this hour because the Princess's
yacht has to leave to take up friends who are waiting for us at Brehat."
"What time is it?" said Esperance, turning round.
The professor consulted his watch.
"Twenty minutes past three. Quick, Marguerite, tell the men to harness
the victoria with the two horses at once."
A quarter of an hour later the carriage was ready to leave. When it
had disappeared round the corner from the farm, Genevieve and her
friend prepared to go for a walk. Esperance told her mother and Mlle.
Frahender that they would be back again in half an hour. They climbed
down the cliff, and were soon out of earshot of everyone--they were
quite alone. "Genevieve, Genevieve," said Esperance, "I feel that a
new danger is threatening me, ready to destroy all my new illusions.
Do not leave me, darling."
"What is it that you fear?"
"I can only be sure of one thing, I am in such horrible distress, and
that is that the Duke de Morlay-La-Branche is at the bottom of this
visit. Ah! if I could be sure that I should never see him again,
never, never!..."
And she cried in her great distress like a little child.
Genevieve stayed at her side, without saying a word, only stroking her
hands from time to time. Presently Esperance grew calmer.
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