"Go quietly and open the door.

Try and hide your fears, grumble in an audible voice at being interrupted in your cooking, and tell the soldiers at once that they will find mademoiselle in the boudoir.

Go, for God's sake!" she added, whilst suppressed emotion suddenly made her young voice vibrate; "go, before they break open that door!" Madame Belhomme, impressed and cowed, obeyed like an automaton.

She turned and marched fairly straight out of the room.

It was not a minute too soon.