"I will call you madame, if you will
promise me in return to answer all my questions faithfully."
"I promise you that, by my child," answered Mademoiselle Oliva,
bowing slightly.
"Tell me, then, do you know the person who sits in that chair?"
Mademoiselle Oliva cast a quick look at Lamotte, who glared at her
from her seat.
"Oh, yes, I know her," she said. "That is, I do not know her name, I
only know that she lives in a splendid palace, that she is very
rich, and has everything nice."
"How do you know this lady? Tell us that."
"I will tell you, gentlemen, and I swear to you that so sure as I
want to be an honorable wife, I will tell you the whole truth. I was
walking one day in the Palais Royal, when a tall, slim, gentlemanly
man, who had passed me several times, came up to me, said some soft
things, and asked permission to visit me. I answered him, smiling,
that he could visit me at once if he would take me into one of the
eating-houses and dine with me. He accepted my proposition, and we
dined together, and were merry and jolly enough for a new
acquaintance. When we parted we promised to meet there again on the
morrow, and so we did. After the second dinner, the amiable
gentleman conducted me home, and there told me that he was very
distinguished and influential, that he had friends at court, and was
very well acquainted with the king and queen.
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