not leave her, as I should certainly have done once. We entered.
Nanine had already opened the door.

"Has Prudence come?" said Marguerite.

"No, madame."

"Say that she is to be admitted as soon as she comes. But first
put out the lamp in the drawing-room, and if any one comes, say
that I have not come back and shall not be coming back."

She was like a woman who is preoccupied with something, and
perhaps annoyed by an unwelcome guest. I did not know what to do
or say. Marguerite went toward her bedroom; I remained where I
was.

"Come," she said.

She took off her hat and her velvet cloak and threw them on the
bed, then let herself drop into a great armchair beside the fire,
which she kept till the very beginning of summer, and said to me
as she fingered her watch-chain:

"Well, what news have you got for me?"

"None, except that I ought not to have come to-night."

"Why?"

"Because you seem vexed, and no doubt I am boring you."