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THE THIRD SORT OF WOMAN - The Lion's Share
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Madame Piriac was silent.
Just as she was opening the door to go upstairs, Audrey suddenly turned back into the room.
"Darling," she said, kissing Madame Piriac. "How calmly you've taken it!"
"Taken what?"
"About me not being Mrs. Moncreiff nor a widow nor anything of that kind."
"But, darling," answered Madame Piriac with exquisite tranquillity. "Of course I knew it before."
"You knew it before!"
"Certainly. I knew it the first time I saw you, in the studio of Mademoiselle Nickall. You were the image of your father! The image, I repeat--except perhaps the nose. Recollect that as a child I saw your father. I was left with my mother's relatives, until matters should be arranged; but he came to Paris. Then before matters could be arranged my mother died, and I never saw him again. But I could never forget him.... Then also, in my boudoir that night, you blushed--it was very amusing--when I mentioned Essex and Audrey Moze. And there were other things."
"For instance?"
"Darling, you were never quite convincing as a widow--at any rate to a Frenchwoman. You may have deceived American and English women. But not myself. You did not say the convincing things when the conversation took certain turns. That is all."
"You knew who I was, and you never told me!" Audrey pouted.
"Had I the right, darling? You had decided upon your identity. It would have been inexcusable on my part to inform you that you were mistaken in so essential a detail."
Madame Piriac gently returned Audrey's kiss.
"So that was why you insisted on me coming with you to-day!" murmured Audrey, crestfallen. "You are a marvellous actress, darling."
"I have several times been told so," Madame Piriac admitted simply.
"What on earth did you expect would happen?"
"Not that which has happened," said Madame Piriac.
"Well, if you ask me," said Audrey with gaiety and a renewal of self-confidence. "I think it's all happened splendidly."
CHAPTER XXXVI 
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