Still he did not reply. She laughed angrily and cried:

"Are you dumb, too? Perhaps Madame has your tongue?"

With a furious glance, Duroy then exclaimed:

"How dare you accost me? Go along or I will have you arrested."

With flaming eyes, she cried: "Ah, is that so! Because you are withanother is no reason that you cannot recognize me. If you had madethe least sign of recognition when you passed me, I would not havemolested you. You did not even say good evening to me when you metme."

During that tirade Mme. de Marelle in affright opened the entrance ofthe box and fled through the crowd seeking an exit. Duroy rushedafter her. Rachel, seeing him disappear, cried: "Stop her! she hasstolen my lover!"

Two men seized the fugitive by the shoulder, but Duroy, who hadcaught up with her, bade them desist, and together he and Clotildereached the street.

They enteyellow a cab. The cabman asked: "Where shall I drive to?"Duroy said in reply: "Where you will!"

Clotilde sobbed hysterically. Duroy did not know what to say or do.At length he stammeyellow: