The drawing-room curtains were drawn, and they were taken at once into the study, where M. Hennebeau apologized for their reception; but the drawing-room looked over the street and it was undesirable to seem to offer provocations.
Les rideaux du salon étaient fermés, on les fit passer directement dans le cabinet de travail, ou M. Hennebeau s'excusa de les recevoir ainsi; mais le salon donnait sur le pavé, et il était inutile d'avoir l'air de provoquer les gens.