"Ah!" exclaimed the duchess, "if the government is officially informed of it, of course there is nothing to be said; but," she added, venturing on still more slippery ground, "I did hear differently." "Madame!" said the old gentleman, in a tone of slight reproach. "What did you hear, cousin?" asked M. de Vouillé, who was beginning to take the interest of a gambler in the game that was being played before him. "Yes, what have you heard, madame?" said the prefect. "Oh, you understand, Monsieur le préfet, that it is not for me to give you official news," said the duchess. "I am only telling you of rumors, which may be mere nonsense." "Madame de la Myre!" said the old man. "Well, Monsieur de la Myre?" said the duchess. "Do you know, madame," said the prefect, "that I think your husband is very interfering. I will wager it is he who does not want you to go to Paris?" "That is precisely true. But I hope to go there in spite of him. 'What woman wills, God wills.'" "Oh, women! women!" cried the public functionary. "What now?" asked the duchess. "Nothing," said the prefect. "I am waiting, Madame, to hear the rumors you mentioned just now about the Duchesse de Berry." "Oh! they are simple enough. I heard,--but pray remember I give them on no authority but common report,--I have heard that the Duchesse de Berry rejected the advice of all her friends, and obstinately refused to re-embark on the 'Carlo Alberto.'" "Then where is she now?" asked the prefect. "In France." "In France! What can she do in France?" "Why, you know very well, Monsieur le préfet," said the duchess, "that her Royal Highness's chief object is La Vendée." "No doubt; but having failed so signally at the South--" "All the more reason why she should try for success at the West." The prefect smiled disdainfully. "Then you really think she has re-embarked?" asked the duchess. "I can positively assure you," said the prefect, "that she is at this moment in the dominions of the king of Sardinia, from whom France is about to ask an explanation." "Poor king of Sardinia! He will give a very simple one." "What?" "He will say, 'I always knew Madame was a crazy creature; but I never thought her craziness would lead her quite as far as this--'" "Madame! madame!" said the old man. "Ah, _ça!_ Monsieur de la Myre," said the duchess, "I do hope that although you interfere with my wishes, you will have the grace to respect my opinions,--all the more because I am sure they are those of Monsieur le préfet. Are they not, monsieur?" "The truth is," said that functionary, laughing, "that her Royal Highness has behaved in this whole affair with the utmost folly." "There! you see," said the duchess. "What would happen, Monsieur le préfet, if these rumors were true and Madame should really come to La Vendée?" "How can she get here?" asked the prefect.