It was necessary, however, to provide for the consequences of this

disappearance, and the gossip which would inevitably result in

connection with it. Well, after a good deal of hesitation, I confided

the whole matter to my uncle.

"You old stupid!" said he to me, "why, I have known all about your

little love-knot for the last six months!"

"What! do you mean to say you knew that Kondjé-Gul?--"

"Lord bless you! Don't you suppose that I heard enough from Mohammed to

make me keep my eyes open?"

After I had come to a complete understanding with my uncle, I made my

own arrangements. I was expected to dinner at Kondjé's that day. I found

her quite sad; and on the pretext of giving her some distraction, I

ordered the carriage at about half-past eight, as if for a drive to the

Bois. We started off.

As soon as we were alone, she said to me: "Good gracious, André! whatever has been passing between you and my

mother? I am worried to death. She has been talking again to me about my

departure with her, and Fanny believes that she is making her

preparations for it already.--She is going to carry me away."

"All right, never mind her!" I answered with a laugh; "you're out of

danger already."

"How so?"

"I'm taking you away! You won't go back to the house, for we are off to

Fontainebleau, where we shall both of us remain in concealment, while

watching events."

Need I describe to you her joy? In the Champs Elysées we got out, as if

in order to walk, and I sent back the carriage. An hour after this, a

cab set us down at the railway station!

We spent a delightful week in the forest, playing truant. Fanny, who is

a reliable girl, has joined us here. We really had a narrow escape; for

it seems that Madame Murrah had, the very day we made our flight, got

everything planned for leaving the day after. When she found in the

morning that Kondjé-Gul was gone, she nearly had a fit. Kiusko came to

the house, being sent for at once; all of which pretty clearly

indicates an understanding between them. The Circassian of course rushed

after me to the Rue de Varennes, noisily demanding her daughter. So my

aunt got to know all about it! My uncle, whom I had taken into my

confidence, put them at once completely off the scent, by replying that

I had started for Spain.




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