"I? Not I!" answered Estelle, with a quick indignation. "It is you! Ah,
perhaps you did not think--perhaps you are accustomed to have every
ones--to have every one--give homage to the great singer--you amuse the
time--what do you care? I put such things into her head? No!--not at
all! But you! You give her a wishing-cup--what is the wish? You come
here often--you are very kind to her--oh, yes, very kind, and Nina is
grateful for kindness--you sing with her--what do you call them?--songs
of love. Ah, yes, the _chansons amoureuses_ are very beautiful--very
charming--but sometimes they break hearts."
"I tell you I had no idea of anything of the kind," he said--for to be
rated by the little boy-officer was a new experience. "But I am going to
try to find Nina--whatever you may choose to do."
"I respect her wish," said Mlle. Girond, somewhat stiffly. However, the
next moment she had changed her mood. "Mr. Moore, if you were to find
her, what then?" she asked, rather timidly.
"I should bring her back to her friends," he answered, simply enough.
"And then?"
"I should want to see her as happy and contented as she used to be--the
Nina we used to know.
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