CHAPTER VII. PARBURY-RIBEIRA-ALTENHEIM
The girls were playing in the garden, under the supervision of Mlle. Charlotte, Geneviève's new assistant. Mme. Ernemont came out, distributed some cakes among them and then went back to the room which served as a drawing-room and parlor in one, sat down before a writing-desk and began to arrange her papers and account-books.
Suddenly, she felt the presence of a stranger in the room. She turned round in alarm:
"You!" she cried. "Where have you come from? How did you get in?"
"Hush!" said Prince Sernine. "Listen to me and do not let us waste a minute: Geneviève?"
"Calling on Mrs. Kesselbach."
"When will she be here?"
"Not before an hour."
"Then I will let the brothers Doudeville come. I have an appointment with them. How is Geneviève?"
"Very
