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At this moment； however； the presence of Madame Servin produced an
interlude in the drama thus played below the surface in these various
young hearts； the sentiments； ideas； and progress of which were
expressed by phrases that were almost allegorical； by mischievous
glances； by gestures； by silence even； more intelligible than words。
As soon as Madame Servin entered the studio； her eyes turned to the
door near which Ginevra was seated。 Under present circumstances the
fact of this glance was not lost。 Though at first none of the pupils
took notice of it； Mademoiselle Thirion recollected it later； and it
explained to her the doubt； fear； and mystery which now gave something
wild and frightened to Madame Servin's eyes。
〃Mesdemoiselles；〃 she said； 〃Monsieur Servin cannot come to…day。〃
Then she went round complimenting each young girl； receiving in return
a volume of those feminine caresses which are given as much by the
tones of the voice and by looks as by gestures。 She presently reached
Ginevra； under the influence of an uneasiness she tried in vain to
disguise。 They nodded to each other in a friendly way； but said
nothing； one painted； the other stood looking at the painting。 The
breathing of the soldier in the closet could be distinctly heard； but
Madame Servin appeared not to notice it； her feigned ignorance was so
obvious that Ginevra recognized it at once for wilful deafness。
Presently the unknown man turned on his pallet。
The Italian then looked fixedly at Madame Servin； who said； without
the slightest change of face：
〃Your copy is as fine as the original； if I had to choose between the
two I should be puzzled。〃
〃Monsieur Servin has not taken his wife into his confidence as to this
mystery；〃 thought Ginevra； who； after replying to the young wife's
speech with a gentle smile of incredulity； began to hum a Corsican
〃canzonetta〃 to cover the noise that was made by the prisoner。
It was so unusual a thing to hear the studious Italian sing； that all
the other young girls looked up at her in surprise。 Later； this
circumstance served as proof to the charitable suppositions of
jealousy。
Madame Servin soon went away； and the session ended without further
events； Ginevra allowed her companions to depart； and seemed to intend
to work later。 But； unconsciously to herself； she betrayed her desire
to be left alone by impatient glances； ill…disguised； at the pupils
who were slow in leaving。 Mademoiselle Thirion； a cruel enemy to the
girl who excelled her in everything； guessed by the instinct of
jealousy that her rival's industry hid some purpose。 By dint of
watching her she was struck by the attentive air with which Ginevra
seemed to be listening to sounds that no one else had heard。 The
expression of impatience she now detected in her companion's eyes was
like a flash of light to her。
Amelie was the last of the pupils to leave the studio； from there she
went down to Madame Servin's apartment and talked with her for a
moment； then she pretended to have left her bag； ran softly back to
the studio； and found Ginevra once more mounted on her frail
scaffolding； and so absorbed in the contemplation of an unknown object
that she did not hear the slight noise of her companion's footsteps。
It is true that； to use an expression of Walter Scott； Amelie stepped
as if on eggs。 She hastily withdrew outside the door and coughed。
Ginevra quivered； turned her head； saw her enemy； blushed； hastened to
alter the shade to give meaning to her position； and came down from
her perch leisurely。 She soon after left the studio； bearing with her；
in her memory； the image of a man's head； as beauteous as that of the
Endymion； a masterpiece of Girodet's which she had lately copied。
〃To banish so young a man！ Who can he be？ for he is not Marshal Ney〃
These two sentences are the simplest expression of the many ideas that
Ginevra turned over in her mind for two days。 On the third day； in
spite of her haste to be first at the studio； she found Mademoiselle
Thirion already there； having come in a carriage。
Ginevra and her enemy observed each other for a long time； but they
made their faces impenetrable。 Amelie had seen the handsome head of
the mysterious man； but； fortunately； and unfortunately also； the
Imperial eagles and uniform were so placed that she did not see them
through the crevice in the partition。 She was lost in conjectures。
Suddenly Servin came in； much earlier than usual。
〃Mademoiselle Ginevra；〃 he said； after glancing round the studio； 〃why
have you placed yourself there？ The light is bad。 Come nearer to the
rest of the young ladies and pull down that curtain a little。〃
Then he sat down near Laure； whose work deserved his most cordial
attention。
〃Well； well！〃 he cried； 〃here； indeed； is a head extremely well done。
You'll be another Ginevra。〃
The master then went from easel to easel； scolding； flattering；
jesting； and making； as usual； his jests more dreaded than his
reprimands。 Ginevra had not obeyed the professor's order； but remained
at her post； firmly resolved not to quit it。 She took a sheet of paper
and began to sketch in sepia the head of the hidden man。 A work done
under the impulse of an emotion has always a stamp of its own。 The
faculty of giving to representations of nature or of thought their
true coloring constitutes genius； and often； in this respect； passion
takes the place of it。 So； under the circumstances in which Ginevra
now found herself； the intuition which she owed to a powerful effect
upon her memory； or； possibly； to necessity； that mother of great
things； lent her； for the moment； a supernatural talent。 The head of
the young officer was dashed upon the paper in the midst of an awkward
trembling which she mistook for fear； and in which a physiologist
would have recognized the fire of inspiration。 From time to time she
glanced furtively at her companions； in order to hide the sketch if
any of them came near her。 But in spite of her watchfulness； there was
a moment when she did not see the eyeglass of the pitiless Amelie
turned full upon the drawing from the shelter of a great portfolio。
Mademoiselle Thirion； recognizing the portrait of the mysterious man；
showed herself abruptly； and Ginevra hastily covered the sheet of
paper。
〃Why do you stay there in spite of my advice； mademoiselle？〃 asked the
professor； gravely。
The pupil turned her easel so that no one but the master could see the
sketch； which she placed upon it； and said； in an agitated voice：
〃Do you not think； as I do； that the light is very good？ Had I not
better remain here？〃
Servin turned pale。 As nothing escapes the piercing eyes of malice；
Mademoiselle Thirion became； as it were； a sharer in the sudden
emotion of master and pupil。
〃You are right；〃 said Servin； 〃but really；〃 he added； with a forced
laugh； 〃you will soon come to know more than I do。〃
A pause followed； du