She declared that she would have resigned before had it not been for the calumnies, injustice, and persecution (!) carried on against the Duc d��Orl��ans; she hoped his return would dispel the clouds; she pictured the grief her pupils would feel, &c., &c.His first question was for his son, and Pauline really dared not tell him where he was, but when he asked whether he would be long absent, replied ��No.�� She felt very guilty and unhappy because she was deceiving him; but fortunately he only stayed in London a short time during which he was out day and night; and suddenly he went away on business to another part of England. Meanwhile Pauline thought she would start for France, leaving a letter to M. de Beaune to confess the whole matter.With fear and trembling Lisette inquired for her relations, but was assured that her mother was well, and never left Neuilly, that M. Le Brun was all right at Paris, and that her brother and his wife and child were safe in hiding.Her elder sisters, who knew all about it, were much amused at the embarrassment of Pauline when this announcement was made to her. Completely taken by surprise, she did not like even to ask questions about the Marquis de Montagu, but her mother reassured her, told her everything she wished to know, and said that the young man and his father were coming to dine next day.<000005>