"Would you not
like to go?" He seemed eager they should leave the room.
Mr. Peterkin explained that they could not go, as they had lost the
checks for their wraps, and hoped to find their checks on the floor
when everybody was gone. The marshal asked if they could not
describe what they had worn, in which case the loss of the checks
was not so important, as the crowds had now almost left, and it
would not be difficult to identify their wraps. Mrs. Peterkin
eagerly declared she could describe every article.
It was astonishing how the marshals hurried them through the
quickly deserted corridors, how gladly they recovered their
garments! Mrs. Peterkin, indeed, was disturbed by the eagerness
of the marshals; she feared they had some pretext for getting the
family out of the hall. Mrs. Peterkin was one of those who never
consent to be forced to anything. She would not be compelled to
go home, even with strains of music. She whispered her
suspicions to Mr. Peterkin; but Agamemnon came hastily up to
announce the time, which he had learned from the clock in the
large hall. They must leave directly if they wished to catch the
latest train, as there was barely time to reach it.
Then, indeed, was Mrs. Peterkin ready to leave. If they should miss
the train!
If she should have to pass the night in the streets in her turban! She
was the first to lead the way, and, panting, the family followed
her, just in time to take the train as it was leaving the station.
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