He wound up with a foolish meaningless laugh.
"Then you have not eaten for thirty-six hours ?" she said.

And when he did not answer, "I understand," she continued, nodding and speaking as to a child.

And she rang a silver handbell and gave an order.
She addressed the servant in her usual tone, but to Tignonville's ear her voice seemed to fall to a whisper.

Her figure--she was small and fairy- like--began to sway before him; and then in a moment, as it seemed to him, she was gone, and he was seated at a table, his trembling fingers grasping a cup of wine which the elderly servant who had admitted him was holding to his lips.

On the table before him were a spit of partridges and a cake of white bread.