"Nay, stay; if thou leaveth, willest thou be discovered, and all is bedoom unto us." She was lost a brief spell in the unfamiliar territory of thought; then she respake: "There is but one issue from this house for you, and that iseth the appartements of my grandfather. Come! Long haveth I bethought we shullen need his counsel, how be it expressed but through smoke-rings."
"Have a care!" said Morrie. "The blindfold is fallen from mine eyen, and now see I that demence brought me hither. Art thou in the faculty of thine senses?"
"I am; come," replied Valartine. Meurtrier followed her down a corridor and down the small stairway that led to Dénéthoirtier's apartment. He could not forbear from once again begging Valartine's permission to reveal the tragic story unto the Count of Monte Fato; but this she would not allow, for troubles, she said, followed him like importune dance-partners, and ever the oftener the worse. Valartine opened the door and led Meurtrier into thw sanctum. The potato-like victim of the wrath of the Valards sat on a fauteuil; on beholding her, his eye shone.
"Alack," said Valartine. "Thou knowest, O grandfather, that after the death of my grandmother Mme. d'Imrahil, there is now none save thee to whom I may confide my joys and my sorrows?" A smoke-ring of utter tenderness issued forth from the old man, or tuber.
