During this remark Marguerite looked at me attentively.

"My dear Prudence," I answered, "you do not know what you are saying."

"What a nice place you've got!" Prudence went on. "May we see the
bedroom?"

"Yes."

Prudence went into the bedroom, not so much to see it as to make up for
the foolish thing which she had just said, and to leave Marguerite and
me alone.

"Why did you bring Prudence?" I asked her.

"Because she was at the theatre with me, and because when I leave here I
want to have some one to see me home."

"Could not I do?"

"Yes, but, besides not wishing to put you out, I was sure that if you
came as far as my door you would want to come up, and as I could not let
you, I did not wish to let you go away blaming me for saying 'No.'"

"And why could you not let me come up?"

"Because I am watched, and the least suspicion might do me the greatest
harm."

"Is that really the only reason?"

"If there were any other, I would tell you; for we are not to have any
secrets from one another now."

"Come, Marguerite, I am not going to take a roundabout way of saying
what I really want to say. Honestly, do you care for me a little?"