Jeanne whispered to her companion: "Let us make haste and get home quickly." But Carlino, hearing the sound of dance-music issuing from the Hotel de Flandre, ordered them to stop and began writing in his note-book.

Noemi was saying something about the Hotel de Flandre, where she had stayed some years before, when Jeanne suddenly interrupted her: "Did Maria write you that long story ?" Noemi answered, apprehensive rather than surprised.
"Yes, it was Maria." "I do not understand," replied Jeanne, "why she should have taken all that trouble." Noemi did not answer.

Jeanne shook her arm which she still held.

"Will you not speak?
What do you think ?" Although both now were silent, they did not hear Carlino call to them to turn to the left.

He came up angrily, and taking them by the shoulders, turned them, fuming the while, in another direction.