At this moment, however, the presence of Madame Servin produced an
interlude in the drama thus played below the surface in these various
young hearts, the sentiments, ideas, and progress of which were
expressed by phrases that were almost allegorical, by mischievous
glances, by gestures, by silence even, more intelligible than words.
As soon as Madame Servin entered the studio, her eyes turned to the
door near which Ginevra was seated. Under present circumstances the
fact of this glance was not lost. Though at first none of the pupils
took notice of it, Mademoiselle Thirion recollected it later, and it
explained to her the doubt, fear, and mystery which now gave something
wild and frightened to Madame Servin's eyes.

"Mesdemoiselles," she said, "Monsieur Servin cannot come to-day."

Then she went round complimenting each young girl, receiving in return
a volume of those feminine caresses which are given as much by the
tones of the voice and by looks as by gestures. She presently reached
Ginevra, under the influence of an uneasiness she tried in vain to
disguise. They nodded to each other in a friendly way, but said
nothing; one painted, the other stood looking at the painting. The
breathing of the soldier in the closet could be distinctly heard, but
Madame Servin appeared not to notice it; her feigned ignorance was so
obvious that Ginevra recognized it at once for wilful deafness.
Presently the unknown man turned on his pallet.

The Italian then looked fixedly at Madame Servin, who said, without
the slightest change of face:--

"Your copy is as fine as the original; if I had to choose between the
two I should be puzzled."