Before dinner, Mademoiselle Sergent took us for a walk along the river: little Luce, quite overcome with pity, tried to console me for my punishment:
‘Listen, if you asked her to let you come downstairs, I’m sure she would, if you asked her nicely …’
‘Don’t worry!
I’d rather be triple-locked in for eight months, eight days, eight hours and eight minutes.’
‘You’re awfully silly not to want to!
We’ll make roses and we’ll sing – and we’ll …’
‘Such pure pleasures!
I shall pour some water on your head!’
‘Ssh! Be quiet!
But truly, you’ve spoilt our day.
I shan’t feel a bit gay tonight, because you won’t be there.’
‘Don’t get sentimental.
I shall sleep, I shall gather strength for the “great day” tomorrow.’
We dined again at the common table with commercial travellers and horse-dealers.
The gawky Anais, obsessed with the idea of getting herself noticed, gesticulated wildly and upset her glass of wine and water over the white cloth.
At nine, we went upstairs again.
My companions armed themselves with little shawls against the coolness that might come later and, as for me – I went back into my room.
Oh, I put a good face on it, but I listened with far from kindly feelings to the key that Mademoiselle Sergent turned in the door and carried off in her pocket … There, I was all alone … Almost at once, I heard them in the courtyard. I could have had an excellent view of them from my window but not for anything in the world would I have admitted my regrets by showing any curiosity.
Very well, what then? There was nothing to do but go to bed.
I had already taken off my belt when, suddenly, I stood stock-still before the dressing-table in front of the communicating door that it blocked. That door opened into the neighbouring room (the bolt was on my side) and the neighbouring room gave on to the corridor … I recognized the finger of Providence in this, it was undeniable . .
Never mind, come what might, I didn’t want the Redhead to be able to triumph and say to herself:
‘I shut her in!’
I buckled on my belt again and put on my hat.
I wasn’t going to be so silly as to go into the courtyard, I was going to see Papa’s friends, those charming hospitable Xs, who would give me a warm welcome.
Ouf! How heavy that dressing-table was!
It made me hot.
The bolt was hard to push back, it needed exercise, and the door grated as it opened, but it did open.
The room I entered, holding my candle high, was empty; there were no sheets on the bed.
I ran to the door, the blessed door which was not locked and which opened angelically on to the adorable corridor … How easily one breathes when one is not under lock and key!
I mustn’t let myself get caught!
But there wasn’t a soul on the stairs, not a soul at the reception-desk … everyone was making roses.
Go on making roses, good people, go on making roses without me!
Outside, in the warm darkness, I laughed very softly; but I had to get to the X’s house … The trouble was that I didn’t know the way, especially at night.
Pooh! I would ask.
First of all, I resolutely followed the course of the river, then, under a lamp-post, I decided to ask a passing gentleman ‘the way to the Place du Theatre, please?’
He stopped and leant down to have a good look at me:
‘But, my lovely chid, allow me to take you there, you’ll never find it all by yourself …’ Botheration!
I turned on my heels and fled precipitately into the shadows.
At last I asked a grocer’s boy, who was pulling down the iron curtain of his shop with a tremendous din, and then, after walking street after street, often pursued by a laugh or a cheeky call, I arrived in the Place du Theatre. I rang the bell of the house I knew.
My entrance interrupted the trio for violin, ’cello, and piano which two fair-haired sisters and their father were playing: they all got up excitedly:
‘You here?
How?
Why? All alone!’ –
‘Wait, let me explain and do forgive me.’
I told them about my imprisonment, my escape, and the Certificate tomorrow; the little fair girls laughed like mad.
‘Oh, that’s funny!
No one but you would think of such marvellous stunts!’
Their Papa laughed too, indulgently:
‘Come along, don’t be frightened. We’ll take you back, we’ll obtain your forgiveness.’
Thoroughly nice people!