Doubt began to stir in the eyes of the Englishman. He looked at
Madame with a kind of indecision, to find that she was glancing
covertly at him. His gaze finally rested on Maurice, who had
crossed his legs and was keeping time to the music with his foot.
Indeed, these were not the violent protestations of innocence
he had looked for. This demeanor was not at all in accord with
his expectations. Now that he had possessed Madame's lips
(though she might never possess the consols), Maurice did not
appear so guilty.
"Carewe," he said, "you have deceived me from the start."
"Ah! c'est un fameux regiment, Le regiment de la Grande Duchesse!"
"You knew that Madame was her Highness," went on the Englishman,
"and yet you kept that a secret from me. Can you blame me if I
doubt you in other respects?"
"Sonnez donc la trompette, Et battez les tambours!"
And the warbler nodded significantly at Madame, whose frown grew
still darker.
"Eh! Monsieur," cried the Colonel, with a protesting hand, "you
are out of tune!"
"I should like to know why you returned here," said Madame.
"Either you have some plan, or your audacity has no bounds.
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