Hanaud leaned across the table to Celia and said in a low voice: "Mademoiselle, if I may suggest it, it would be as well if you put
on your gloves; otherwise they may notice your wrists."
Celia followed his advice. She ate some food and drank a glass of
champagne. A little colour returned to her cheeks.
"You are very kind to me, you and monsieur your friend," she said,
with a smile towards Ricardo. "But for you--" and her voice shook.
"Hush!" said Hanaud--"all that is over; we will not speak of it."
Celia looked out across the road on to the trees, of which the
dark foliage was brightened and made pale by the lights of the
restaurant. Out on the water some one was singing.
"It seems impossible to me," she said in a low voice, "that I am
here, in the open air, and free."
Hanaud looked at his watch.
"Mlle. Celie, it is past ten o'clock. M. Ricardo's car is waiting
there under the trees. I want you to drive back to Aix. I have
taken rooms for you at an hotel, and there will be a nurse from
the hospital to look after you."
"Thank you, monsieur," she said; "you have thought of everything.
But I shall not need a nurse."
"But you will have a nurse," said Hanaud firmly. "You feel
stronger now--yes, but when you lay your head upon your pillow,
mademoiselle, it will be a comfort to you to know that you have
her within call. And in a day or two," he added gently, "you will
perhaps be able to tell us what happened on Tuesday night at the
Villa Rose?"
Celia covered her face with her hands for a few moments. Then she
drew them away and said simply: "Yes, monsieur, I will tell you."
Hanaud bowed to her with a genuine deference.
"Thank you, mademoiselle," he said, and in his voice there was a
strong ring of sympathy.
They went downstairs and entered Ricardo's motor car.
"I want to send a telephone message," said Hanaud, "if you will
wait here."
"No!" cried Celia decisively, and she again laid hold of his coat,
with a pretty imperiousness, as though he belonged to her.
"But I must," said Hanaud with a laugh.
"Then I will come too," said Celia, and she opened the door and
set a foot upon the step.
"You will not, mademoiselle," said Hanaud, with a laugh. "Will you
take your foot back into that car? That is better. Now you will
sit with your friend, M. Ricardo, whom, by the way, I have not yet
introduced to you. He is a very good friend of yours,
mademoiselle, and will in the future be a still better one."