“Very well, do as you like!” he cried.  “Only I don’t side with you, my dear.  You must get out of the scrape by yourself.”

And with that he left her.  Terrors got hold of her again, and scurrying past shops and turning white whenever a man drew nigh, she fetched an immense compass before reaching Montmartre.

On the morrow, while still suffering from the shock of last night’s terrors, Nana went to her aunt’s and at the foot of a small empty street in the Batignolles found herself face to face with Labordette.  At first they both appeared embarrassed, for with his usual complaisance he was busy on a secret errand.  Nevertheless, he was the first to regain his self-possession and to announce himself fortunate in meeting her.  Yes, certainly, everybody was still wondering at Nana’s total eclipse.  People were asking for her, and old friends were pining.  And with that he grew quite paternal and ended by sermonizing.

“Frankly speaking, between you and me, my dear, the thing’s getting stupid.  One can understand a mash, but to go to that extent, to be trampled on like that and to get nothing but knocks!  Are you playing up for the ‘Virtue Prizes’ then?”

She listened to him with an embarrassed expression.  But when he told her about Rose, who was triumphantly enjoying her conquest of Count Muffat, a flame came into her eyes.

“Oh, if I wanted to—­” she muttered.

As became an obliging friend, he at once offered to act as intercessor.  But she refused his help, and he thereupon attacked her in an opposite quarter.

He informed her that Bordenave was busy mounting a play of Fauchery’s containing a splendid part for her.

“What, a play with a part!” she cried in amazement.  “But he’s in it and he’s told me nothing about it!”

She did not mention Fontan by name.  However, she grew calm again directly and declared that she would never go on the stage again.  Labordette doubtless remained unconvinced, for he continued with smiling insistence.

“You know, you need fear nothing with me.  I get your Muffat ready for you, and you go on the stage again, and I bring him to you like a little dog!”

“No!” she cried decisively.

And she left him.  Her heroic conduct made her tenderly pitiful toward herself.  No blackguard of a man would ever have sacrificed himself like that without trumpeting the fact abroad.  Nevertheless, she was struck by one thing:  Labordette had given her exactly the same advice as Francis had given her.  That evening when Fontan came home she questioned him about Fauchery’s piece.  The former had been back at the Varietes for two months past.  Why then had he not told her about the part?

“What part?” he said in his ill-humored tone.  “The grand lady’s part, maybe?  The deuce, you believe you’ve got talent then!  Why, such a part would utterly do for you, my girl!  You’re meant for comic business—­there’s no denying it!”