CHAPTER XXXII
.png)
ADAME DE LA VERDELIÈRE having failed to force an entrée as sick-nurse, returned after several days had elapsed,—during the absence of Madame des Aubels,—to ask Maurice d’Esparvieu for his subscription to the French churches. Arcade led her to the bedside of the convalescent. Maurice whispered in the angel’s ear:
“Traitor, deliver me from this ogress immediately, or you will be answerable for the evil which will soon befall.”
“Be calm,” said Arcade, with a confident air. After the conventional complimentary flourishes, Madame de la Verdelière signed to Maurice to dismiss the angel. Maurice feigned not to understand. And Madame de la Verdelière disclosed the ostensible reason of her visit.
“Our churches,” she said, “our beloved country churches,—what is to become of them?”
303
