“Plumet, pale as death, fumbled at his workman’s cap, like a naughty
   child.

   “‘Why, you see, Mademoiselle—­I am only a poor framemaker.’

   “’Very well!  I shall go to Madame Plumet, who is sure to know, and
   will not mind telling me.’

   “Madame Plumet, who must have been listening at the door, came in at
   that moment, trembling like a leaf, and prepared to dare all.

   “I beg you won’t, Mademoiselle,’ broke in Dufilleul; ’there is no
   secret.  I only wanted to tease you.  The portrait is for a friend
   of mine who lives at Fontainebleau.’

   “‘His name?’

   “‘Gonin—­he’s a solicitor.’

   “’It was time you told me.  How wretched you both looked.  Another
   time tell me straight out, and frankly, anything you have no reason
   to conceal.  Promise you won’t act like this again.’

   “‘I promise.’

   “‘Then, let us make peace.’

   “She held out her hand to him.  Before he could grasp it, Madame
   Plumet broke in: 

   “’Excuse me, Mademoiselle, I can not have you deceived like this in
   my house.  Mademoiselle, it is not true!’

   “‘What is not true, Madame?’

   “’That this portrait is for Monsieur Gonin, or anybody else at
   Fontainebleau.’

   “Mademoiselle Charnot drew back in surprise.

   “‘For whom, then?’

   “‘An actress.’

   “‘Take care what you are saying, Madame.’

   “‘For Mademoiselle Tigra of the Bouffes.’

   “‘Lies!’ cried Dufilleul.  ’Prove it, Madame; prove your story,
   please!’

   “‘Look at the back,’ answered Madame Plumet, quietly.

   “Mademoiselle Jeanne, who had not put down the miniature, turned it
   over, read what was on the back, grew deathly pale, and handed it to
   her lover.

   “‘What does it say?’ said Dufilleul, stooping over it.

“It said:  ’From Monsieur le Baron D-----to Mademoiselle T-----,
Boulevard Haussmann.  To be delivered on Thursday.’

   “’You can see at once, Mademoiselle, that this is not my writing. 
   It’s an abominable conspiracy.  Monsieur Plumet, I call upon you to
   give your wife the lie.  She has written what is false; confess it!’

   “The frame-maker hid his face in his hands and made no reply.

   “‘What, Plumet, have you nothing to say for me?’

   “Mademoiselle Charnot was leaving the room.

   “’Where are you going, Mademoiselle?  Stay, you will soon see that
   they lie!’

   “She was already half-way across the landing when Dufilleul caught
   her and seized her by the hand.

   “‘Stay, Jeanne, stay!’

   “‘Let me go, sir!’

   “‘No, hear me first; this is some horrible mistake.  I swear’

   “At this moment a high-pitched voice was heard on the staircase.