Valery?"
"No," he answered firmly, "that is impossible. I shall go to an
hotel. No, do not try to dissuade me, for it would be useless."
"And you can let me go from you?"
"Only for a few hours. We shall be in the same town, and can see one
another as often as we like."
"And you would be satisfied with that?"
"It will have to be so, as the circumstances will not permit of
anything else."
She broke into a storm of tears, and sobbed, "You do not love me."
He soothed and comforted her; he kissed her eyes, he pressed her
head to his heart, and tried to calm her as he would a child, but it
was long before he brought her round. At last she raised her head
and asked:
"You are determined to go to an hotel?"
"I must, dear heart."
"Very well; then I shall go too."
He had nothing to say against this and so it was settled.
It was close upon midnight when the train ran into the St. Lazare
station. Anne came hurrying from the next carriage.
"You can drive home," said Pilar to her. "Take the large boxes with
you. You can leave the small one and the portmanteau with me. I am
going with monsieur. I shall come round to-morrow and see if things
are in order."
Anne opened her eyes in astonishment, but her face did not betray
any further emotion, and she answered calmly:
"Very good, Madame la Comtesse.
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