Page:The fortunes of Fifi (IA fortunesoffifi00seawiala).pdf/204

 the room shrieking, "Thieves! thieves! Send for the police!" Madame Bourcet continued to emit screams at short intervals, while Louis Bourcet, his head in his hands, groaned in anguish.

Fifi, alone, sat serene and smiling, and as soon as she could make herself heard, cried to Louis:

"Dear Louis, tell me, I beg of you, if you approve of my course?"

"No!" bawled Louis, for once forgetting to be correct in manner and deportment. Then, rising to his feet, and staggering to the door, he said in a sepulchral voice: "Everything is over between us. If the Holy Father takes measures to make me fulfil my compact to marry you, I shall leave France—I shall flee my country. Mademoiselle, permit me to say you are an impossible person. Adieu forever, I hope!" With this he was gone.

Madame Bourcet at this recovered enough to scream to Angéline, in a rapid crescendo:

"Get a van—get a van—!"

Fifi knew perfectly well what that meant, and was in ecstasies. She flew to her room, huddled her belongings together, saying to herself:

"Cartouche, I shall see you! And, Cartouche, I