Deuce take it, the countess was well guarded; there was
nothing to be done in that quarter.
"You're right, it's enough to make one kick the bucket here," said
Fauchery to his cousin when he had made good his escape from the circle
of ladies. "We'll hook it!"
But Steiner, deserted at last by the Count Muffat and the deputy,
came up in a fury. Drops of perspiration stood on his forehead, and he
grumbled huskily:
"Gad! Let 'em tell me nothing, if nothing they want to tell me. I shall
find people who will talk."
Then he pushed the journalist into a corner and, altering his tone, said
in accents of victory:
"It's tomorrow, eh? I'm of the party, my bully!"
"Indeed!" muttered Fauchery with some astonishment.
"You didn't know about it. Oh, I had lots of bother to find her at home.
Besides, Mignon never would leave me alone."
"But they're to be there, are the Mignons."
"Yes, she told me so. In fact, she did receive my visit, and she invited
me. Midnight punctually, after the play."
The banker was beaming. He winked and added with a peculiar emphasis on
the words:
"You've worked it, eh?"
"Eh, what?" said Fauchery, pretending not to understand him. "She wanted
to thank me for my article, so she came and called on me.
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