She had begun to know
that she was being incessantly watched. If Emile were occupied with
the business of the Society, and could not fetch her from the
Hippodrome himself, he never failed to send an understudy in the shape
of one of his allies, generally one of the older men. When she emerged
from the performers' entrance a silent figure would come forward to
meet her. Often they exchanged no words throughout the walk home, but
she was never left till her own door was reached.
If she went anywhere to please herself, to a shop, or to see Estelle,
she was expected to give a full account of her doings. It was an
understood thing that she should not go to the _cafes_ or public
gardens alone, nor speak to anyone not already known and approved by
Emile. With all these conditions she had complied. Already one
illusion had vanished. She had thought to find freedom in Barcelona.
She had indeed found "_La Liberte_."
But the Fates had chosen to be in an ironical mood, and while making
the discovery she had herself become a slave. In all her day there was
no hour that she could call her own.
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