Page:A Gentleman From France (1924).djvu/213

 The actress now pressed the button frantically and the bell buzzed away as though possessed. But all the servants knew what she wanted and did not wait for orders. Instead the orderly walked straight into Madame's beautiful boudoir without waiting to be announced, and Pierre, the hero of the lost division, was in his arms. Hastily he set the struggling dog down on the couch beside Madame, and then went softly out of the room. He understood.

For half an hour they were left entirely alone, while the servants tiptoed about waiting to be summoned to the great lady's presence, and finally the summons came.

When they entered rather fearfully they found the actress sitting erect on her couch. Her eyes were bright, her cheeks