I only wanted, if I might take the liberty, to recommend you to lose no time." "Whom are you afraid of ?" Mrs.Bread looked up the staircase and then down and then she looked at the undusted nymph, as if she possibly had sentient ears.

"I am afraid of every one," she said.
"What an uncomfortable state of mind!" said Newman.

"Does 'every one' wish to prevent my marriage ?" "I am afraid of already having said too much," Mrs.Bread replied.

"I won't take it back, but I won't say any more." And she took her way up the staircase again and led him into Madame de Cintre's salon.
Newman indulged in a brief and silent imprecation when he found that Madame de Cintre was not alone.

With her sat her mother, and in the middle of the room stood young Madame de Bellegarde, in her bonnet and mantle.