About midday
He distinguished the whispering of the two voices ; then , an instant after , the dull fall of Madame de Tecle upon the carpet ; then her despairing sobs . M. de Camors threw from him violently the book which he was forcing himself to read , and , placing his elbows on the bureau which was before him , held , for a long time , his pale brow tightened in his contracted hands . When the sound of sobs abated little by little , and then ceased , he breathed freer . About midday he received this note : `` If you will permit me to take my daughter to the country for a few days , I shall be grateful to you . `` ELISE DE TECLE . '' He returned immediately this simple reply : `` You can do nothing of which I do not approve to-day and always . CAMORS . ''