"I don't know, sir," she answered. "The count came an hour ago, but he

told me to send in his name to Mademoiselle Kondjé's mother, who was

expecting him, I think, and who ordered me to show him into the small

drawing-room, where she went to see him. When he left, he said nothing

to me."

"Did he say nothing to Pierre?" I added.

"Pierre was not in, sir," replied Fanny. "The count only spoke to Madame

Murrah."

"Ah, very well!" I said, carelessly.

These inquiries had led me to a curious discovery. What was the meaning

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of this private interview between Kondjé's mother and Daniel? Determined

to get to the bottom of this mystery, I went up without any more ado to

Madame Murrah's private sitting-room. She did not appear surprised, from

which I concluded that she knew I was in the house, and was prepared to

see me. For my part I pretended to have come to settle some details

connected with the house and the stables, for I was obliged to assist

her in the management of all her domestic affairs. She listened to what

I said with that deferential sort of smile which she invariably assumes

with me. When she was quite absorbed in the calculations which I had

submitted, I said to her all at once: "By the way, what did Count Kiusko come here for so early in the day?"

I thought I noticed her face redden, but this was only a transient

impression.

"The count?" she answered, in a most profoundly surprised tone. "I did

not see him! Has he been here?"

"Why, Fanny showed him in here," I replied, "and you have spoken to

him."

"Ah, yes! this morning," she exclaimed sharply, and with emphasis on

these words. "Goodness me, what a poor head I have! I thought you said

yesterday evening. I understand French so badly, you know. Yes, yes,

he has been here. The poor young man is off his head. This is the second

time he has been here to beg me for Kondjé-Gul's hand. He is quite

crazy! crazy!"

"Oh, then he has been before! But why did not you inform me?"

"It is true: I had forgotten to do so!" she replied.

I deemed it useless to appear to press her any more on the matter. Had

Madame Murrah tried to keep me in ignorance of these visits of Count

Kiusko's? Or was this merely a proof, or the contrary, of the slight

importance which she attached to them? In any case, for me to let her

see my distrust in her would only put her on her guard. So I broke off

the subject, and resumed my household instructions, as if I had remarked

nothing more important in this matutinal incident than the stupid

pertinacity of a discomfited lover. A quarter of an hour afterwards I

took my leave of her in quite a jaunty way.




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