Doubtless he was afraid of seeing Fauchery again introduced into his
family in case he broke with the countess. While avenging her own
wrongs, Rose was anxious for that to happen, since she still felt a
kindness toward the journalist. And Nana waxed meditative and thought
of M. Venot's call, and a plan began to take shape in her brain, while
Mignon was doing his best to talk her over.
"Let's suppose that Rose sends the letter, eh? There's food for scandal:
you're mixed up in the business, and people say you're the cause of it
all. Then to begin with, the count separates from his wife."
"Why should he?" she said. "On the contrary--"
She broke off, in her turn. There was no need for her to think aloud. So
in order to be rid of Mignon she looked as though she entered into his
view of the case, and when he advised her to give Rose some proof of her
submission--to pay her a short visit on the racecourse, for instance,
where everybody would see her--she replied that she would see about it,
that she would think the matter over.
A commotion caused her to stand up again. On the course the horses were
coming in amid a sudden blast of wind. The prize given by the city of
Paris had just been run for, and Cornemuse had gained it.
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