Rival came up with a bustling air. “Mademoiselle, your papa wants you for the dance.”
She said: “Come along, Pretty-boy.”
But he refused, having made up his mind to leave at once, wishing to be alone in order to think. Too many new ideas had entered his mind, and he began to look for his wife. In a short time he saw her drinking chocolate at the buffet with two gentlemen unknown to him. She introduced her husband without mentioning their names to him. After a few moments, he said, “Shall we go?”
“When you like.”
She took his arm, and they walked back through the reception-rooms, in which the public were growing few. She said: “Where is Madame Walter, I should like to wish her goodbye?”
“It is better not to. She would try to keep us for the ball, and I have had enough of this.”
“That is so, you are quite right.”
All the way home they were silent. But as soon as they were in their room Madeleine said smilingly, before even taking off her veil. “I have a surprise for you.”
He growled ill-temperedly: “What is it?”
“Guess.”
“I will make no such effort.”
“Well, the day after tomorrow is the first of January.”
“Yes.”