"I can't possibly leave Jacques alone any longer," said Madame Sennier. "And what have we to do here? We aren't getting local color for an opera."
"No, no; of course, you want to get away!" said Claude quickly, and stiffening with constraint.
"I should love to stay on. This place fascinates me by its strangeness, its marvellous position," said Mrs. Shiffney.
"But I suppose we must go back. Will you take me for a last walk before tea?"
Madame Sennier passed the tip of her tongue across her scarlet lips.
"Over the bridge and up into the pine-wood?"
At this moment Armand Gillier walked brusquely into the room. Mrs. Shiffney turned to Henriette.
"We'll leave Monsieur Gillier to take care of you."
Henriette's lips tightened. Gillier said:
As Mrs. Shiffney and Claude left the room Gillier bowed with very formal politeness. The door shut. After a pause Gillier said:
Madame Sennier sat down on a settee by a round table on which lay several copies of _L'Illustration_, in glazed black covers, _La Dépêche Algérienne_, and a guide to Constantine.
She had been awake most of the previous night, with jealous care studying the libretto Gillier had sold to Claude, which had been put into her hands by Mrs. Shiffney. At once she had recognized its unusual merit. She had in a high degree the faculty, possessed by many clever Frenchwomen, of detecting and appraising the value of a work of art. She was furious because Gillier's libretto had never been submitted to her husband; but she could not say all that was in her mind. She and Adelaide Shiffney had been frank with each other in the matter, and she had no intention of making any mistake because she was angry.
"We haven't much time to spare. Jacques has to get on with his new opera."
Gillier sat down on a chair with a certain cold and reluctant but definite politeness. His look and manner said: "I cannot, of course, leave this lady whom I hate."
"He is a great man now. I congratulate you on his success."
"Jacques was always a great man, but he didn't quite understand it."
"It wasn't stupid. But I don't happen to be a stupid woman." Her yellow eyes narrowed.
"I know how to detect quality. And I suppose you do?"
"You tried to sell libretti to my husband before he was famous."