"Have you thought what this means? It is abduction. It is a crime you have
committed, punishable by long imprisonment."
"I have been Mademoiselle's jailer, not her abductor. And when one is poor
and in need of money!" He shrugged.
"I will give you a thousand francs for the name and address of the man who
instigated this outrage."
Ah, he thought: then she wasn't so sure? "I told you the name,
Mademoiselle. As for his address, I dare not give it, not for ten thousand
francs. Besides, I have said that there has been a mistake."
"For whom have I been mistaken?"
"Who but Monsieur Champeaux's wife, Mademoiselle, who is not in her right
mind?" with inimitable sadness.
"Very well," said Nora. "You say that I am free. That is all I want,
freedom."
"In twenty minutes the electric tram leaves for Paris. You will recall,
Mademoiselle," humbly, "that we have taken nothing belonging to you. You
have your purse and hat and cloak. The struggle was most unfortunate. But,
think, Mademoiselle, think; we thought you to be insane!"
"Permit me to doubt that! And you are not afraid to let me go?"
"Not in the least, Mademoiselle. A mistake has been made, and in telling
you to go at once, we do our best to rectify this mistake. It is only five
minutes to the tram. A carriage is at the door. Will Mademoiselle be
pleased to remember that we have treated her with the utmost courtesy?"
"I shall remember everything," ominously.
"Very good, Mademoiselle. You will be in Paris before nine." With this he
bowed and backed out of the room as though Nora had suddenly made a
distinct ascension in the scale of importance.
"Wait!" she called.
His face appeared in the doorway again.
"Do you know who I am?"
"Since this morning, Mademoiselle."
"That is all."
Free! Her veins tingled with strange exultation. He had lost his courage
and had become afraid of the consequences. Free! Monsieur Champeaux
indeed! Cowardice was a new development in his character. He had been
afraid to come. She drank the tea, but did not touch the toast or fruit.
There would be time enough for breakfast when she arrived in Paris. Her
hands trembled violently as she pinned on her hat, and she was not greatly
concerned as to the angle. She snatched up her purse and cloak, and sped
out into the street. A phaeton awaited her.