That evening, as his wont was, Count Muffat mounted the hill to ring at the outer gate.  But the brightly lit windows and the shouts of laughter astonished him.  When, however, he recognized Mignon’s voice, he understood it all and went off, raging at this new obstacle, driven to extremities, bent on some violent act.  Georges passed through a little door of which he had the key, slipped along the staircase walls and went quietly up into Nana’s room.  Only he had to wait for her till past midnight.  She appeared at last in a high state of intoxication and more maternal even than on the previous nights.  Whenever she had drunk anything she became so amorous as to be absurd.  Accordingly she now insisted on his accompanying her to the Abbey of Chamont.  But he stood out against this; he was afraid of being seen.  If he were to be seen driving with her there would be an atrocious scandal.  But she burst into tears and evinced the noisy despair of a slighted woman.  And he thereupon consoled her and formally promised to be one of the party.

“So you do love me very much,” she blurted out.  “Say you love me very much.  Oh, my darling old bear, if I were to die would you feel it very much?  Confess!”

At Les Fondettes the near neighborhood of Nana had utterly disorganized the party.  Every morning during lunch good Mme Hugon returned to the subject despite herself, told her guests the news the gardener had brought her and gave evidence of the absorbing curiosity with which notorious courtesans are able to inspire even the worthiest old ladies.  Tolerant though she was, she was revolted and maddened by a vague presentiment of coming ill, which frightened her in the evenings as thoroughly as if a wild beast had escaped from a menagerie and were known to be lurking in the countryside.

She began trying to pick a little quarrel with her guests, whom she each and all accused of prowling round La Mignotte.  Count Vandeuvres had been seen laughing on the highroad with a golden-haired lady, but he defended himself against the accusation; he denied that it was Nana, the fact being that Lucy had been with him and had told him how she had just turned her third prince out of doors.  The Marquis de Chouard used also to go out every day, but his excuse was doctor’s orders.  Toward Daguenet and Fauchery Mme Hugon behaved unjustly too.  The former especially never left Les Fondettes, for he had given up the idea of renewing the old connection and was busy paying the most respectful attentions to Estelle.  Fauchery also stayed with the Muffat ladies.  On one occasion only he had met Mignon with an armful of flowers, putting his sons through a course of botanical instruction in a by-path.  The two men had shaken hands and given each other the news about Rose.  She was perfectly well and happy; they had both received a letter from her that morning in which she besought them to profit by the fresh country air for some days longer.  Among all her guests the old lady spared only Count Muffat and Georges.  The count, who said he had serious business in Orleans, could certainly not be running after the bad woman, and as to Georges, the poor child was at last causing her grave anxiety, seeing that every evening he was seized with atrocious sick headaches which kept him to his bed in broad daylight.