CHAPTER 11Ah, how slowly the time seemed to pass! I dared not budge forfear of detection; at last, the criminal actors in this indecentdrama, no doubt surfeited, got up and were prepared to start alongthe road that was to take them home, when the master drew near thebush which hid me; my bonnet betrayed me... he caught sight ofit.... "Jasmin," said he to his valet, "we are discovered... a girlhas beheld our mysteries.... Come hither, flush the b***h into theopen, let's find out why she is here." I did not put them to thetrouble of dragging me from my sanctuary; I stepped forwardimmediately and, falling at their feet, "Oh, Messieurs!" I cried,stretching my arms toward them, "deign to have pity upon an unhappycreature whose fate more deserves your compassion than you maythink; there are very
