'
'Surely, Madame--' began Vandeloup, eagerly.
'No,' she replied, decisively, 'he is not a hard man, but his way of
looking at things through his peculiar religious ideas has warped
his judgment--he will make no attempt to save her, and God knows
what she will come to.'
'There are good women on the stage,' said Vandeloup, at a loss for a
reply.
'Certainly,' returned Madame, calmly, 'there are black and white
sheep in every flock, but Kitty is so young and inexperienced, that
she may become the prey of the first handsome scoundrel she meets.'
Madame had intuitively guessed the whole situation, and Vandeloup
could not help admiring her cleverness. Still his face remained the
same, and his voice was as steady as ever as he answered--
'It is much to be regretted; but still we must hope for the best.'
Was he guilty? Madame could not make up her mind, so determined to
speak boldly.
'Do you remember that day I introduced her to you?'
Vandeloup bowed.
'And you gave me your word of honour you would not try to turn her
head,' pursued Madame, looking at him; 'have you kept your word?'
'Madame,' said Vandeloup, gravely, 'I give you my word of honour
that I have always treated Mlle Kitty as a child and your friend. I
did not know that she had gone until I was told, and whatever
happens to her, I can safely say that it was not Gaston Vandeloup's
fault.
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