"He only wanted to tell Madame that he couldn't come to-night." There was vast joy at this announcement, and Nana clapped her hands.

He wasn't coming, what good luck! She would be free then! And she emitted sighs of relief, as though she had been let off the most abominable of tortures.

Her first thought was for Daguenet.

Poor duck, why, she had just written to tell him to wait till Thursday! Quick, quick, Mme Maloir should write a second letter! But Zoe announced that Mme Maloir had slipped away unnoticed, according to her wont.

Whereupon Nana, after talking of sending someone to him, began to hesitate.