'Don't think that you can deceive us any longer.

We know all! This,' she continued, looking round, her cheeks scarlet, her eyes ablaze with scorn, 'is your mother's, is it! Your mother who has followed the court hither--whose means are narrow, but not so small as to deprive her of the privileges of her rank! This is your mother's hospitality, is it?
You are a cheat, sir! and a detected cheat! Let us begone! Let me go, sir, I say!' Twice I had tried to stop the current of her words; but in vain.

Now with anger which surpassed hers a hundredfold--for who, being a man, would hear himself misnamed before his mother ?--I succeeded, 'Silence, mademoiselle!' I cried, my grasp on her wrist.

'Silence, I say! This is my mother!' And running forward to the bed, I fell on my knees beside it.

A feeble hand had half withdrawn the curtain, and through the gap my mother's stricken face looked out, a great fear stamped upon it..