One morning, about ten o'clock, I was accompanying my aunt upon one of

her rounds of visiting the poor. As we happened to be passing Count

Téral's house, I was very much surprised to see Daniel coming out of it.

What had he been doing there? This was Kondjé-Gul's lesson time, and

certainly not the time of day for callers. This discovery put me into a

state of agitation which it was extremely difficult for me to avoid

showing.

I reflected, however, that it was quite possible Maud or Susannah had

entrusted him with a message or with some book, which he had come to

deliver. However that might be, I wanted to clear up the mystery. When

half-way down the Champs Elysées, I pretended to have an order to give

to a coachmaker, and leaving my aunt to return home alone, I went back

to Téral House.

As I had anticipated, Kondjé-Gul was shut up with her music-mistress. I

sent up my name in the ordinary way, and was immediately introduced.

"What! is it you?" she said, pretending before her mistress to be

surprised at such an early visit. "Have you come to play a duet with

me?"

"No," I answered, "I was passing by this way, and I will only trouble

you long enough to find out if you have formed any plans for to-day with

your friends the Montagues."

"None," she replied, "beyond that they are expecting me at three

o'clock."

"Then they did not send you any message this morning?"

"No. Has anything happened?" she added in Turkish.

"Nothing whatever," I replied, with a laugh. "My aunt brought me this

way, so I thought I would come and say good morning to you."

"How kind and nice of you!" she said, with evident warmth.

She had not left her piano, and I remained standing, so as to show that

I had only called on my way, to receive her orders. I shook hands with

her, saying that I did not wish to interrupt her lessons any more, and

took my departure.

It was evident that Kondjé knew nothing about Daniel's visit. On my way

out I spoke to Fanny, and gave her some instructions, telling her that I

was going to send some flowers. This girl was quite devoted to me, and

her discretion might be perfectly relied upon. However, as I did not

wish her to think that I was questioning her about her mistress, I asked

her in an indifferent manner if the count had not brought anything for

me.




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