Madelon, however, seemed a little
reassured by his confident tone, and he changed the subject by
asking her whether the gentleman who had just left was a
friend of hers.
"Who? Monsieur Legros?" Madelon answered. "No, I don't know
him much, and I do not like him at all; he comes sometimes to
play with papa."
"To play with him?"
"Yes, at cards, you know--at _ecarte_, or _piquet_, or one of those
games."
"And it was with him that your father had an appointment?"
"Yes," said Madelon; "he came last night, and papa told him to
be here again this evening at ten, and that is why I cannot
think why he does not come."
She turned again disconsolately to the window, and there was
another pause. Madelon relapsed into the silence habitual to
her with strangers, and Graham hardly knew how to continue the
conversation; yet he was unwilling to leave the child alone
with her anxiety at that late hour: and besides, he was
haunted by vague, floating memories that refused to shape
themselves definitely. Some time--somewhere--he had heard or
seen, or dreamt of some one--he could not catch the connecting
link which would serve to unite some remote, foregone
experience with his present sensations.
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