For it was he who had laughed.

Madame also shook off her stage trance to look--a thunderous frown upon her handsome face.

The young man laughed on--laughed hysterically--burying his face in his hands.

Madame Vavasour--all attitudes thrown aside--ran up to him in a fury.
"Why are you laughing?
You insult me!--you have done it before.

And now before strangers--it is too much! I insist that you explain!" She stood over him, her eyes blazing.