One morning, about ten o'clock, I was accompanying my aunt upon one of
her rounds of visiting the poor. As we happened to be passing Count
Téral's house, I was very much surprised to see Daniel coming out of it.
What had he been doing there? This was Kondjé-Gul's lesson time, and
certainly not the time of day for callers. This discovery put me into a
state of agitation which it was extremely difficult for me to avoid
showing.
I reflected, however, that it was quite possible Maud or Susannah had
entrusted him with a message or with some book, which he had come to
deliver. However that might be, I wanted to clear up the mystery. When
half-way down the Champs Elysées, I pretended to have an order to give
to a coachmaker, and leaving my aunt to return home alone, I went back
to Téral House.
As I had anticipated, Kondjé-Gul was shut up with her music-mistress. I
sent up my name in the ordinary way, and was immediately introduced.
"What! is it you?" she said, pretending before her mistress to be
surprised at such an early visit. "Have you come to play a duet with
me?"
"No," I answered, "I was passing by this way, and I will only trouble
you long enough to find out if you have formed any plans for to-day with
your friends the Montagues."
"None," she replied, "beyond that they are expecting me at three
o'clock."
"Then they did not send you any message this morning?"
"No. Has anything happened?" she added in Turkish.
"Nothing whatever," I replied, with a laugh. "My aunt brought me this
way, so I thought I would come and say good morning to you."
"How kind and nice of you!" she said, with evident warmth.
She had not left her piano, and I remained standing, so as to show that
I had only called on my way, to receive her orders. I shook hands with
her, saying that I did not wish to interrupt her lessons any more, and
took my departure.
It was evident that Kondjé knew nothing about Daniel's visit. On my way
out I spoke to Fanny, and gave her some instructions, telling her that I
was going to send some flowers. This girl was quite devoted to me, and
her discretion might be perfectly relied upon. However, as I did not
wish her to think that I was questioning her about her mistress, I asked
her in an indifferent manner if the count had not brought anything for
me.