Part 2 (1/2)
The driver, well pleased with this accuood fortune, expressed hi the blood from his forehead, while the two drivers set up the cabriolet and continued to repair the broken harness Glad of the delay, I too, stood still in the rain saying nothing My companion of the hour was as silent
At last the coachentleman said to me: ”You have denied, monsieur, that there was a woman with you It is my belief that she has escaped into the wood”
”I denied nothing,” said I ”I invited you to look for yourself The wood is equally at your disposal I regret--or, rather I do not regret--to be unable to assist you”
Then, to my amazement, he said: ”You, too, are in this affair, I presume You will find it serious”
”What affair? Monsieur is enig, and my friends will ask you to-ret your connection with this matter”
”With what matter?” I broke in ”This passes endurance”
”I fancy you need no explanation I presume that at least you will not hesitate to inform me of your name”
As he spoke his coachman called out to him to hold his horse for a moment, and before I could answer, he turned aside toward the ave him a card, ”This will sufficiently inforave : ”I ah my friends for an explanation”
He was evidently somewhat cooler As he spoke I knew his name as that of a recently appointed under-secretary of the Foreign Office I had never before seen him As we parted I said:
”I shall be at home from eleven until noon to-es having been put in condition, I drove aith enough to think about and with some wonder as to what had become of Alphonse
IV
After a slow drive with a lame horse I reached my club, where I attended to a small matter, and then, as the rain was over, walked to arments left me free to consider the adventure and its too probable results What was meant by the affair?
It was really a so business
I looked at the count's card His nah it was part of duty at our legation to learn all I could in the upper social life of Paris where, at this time, we had few friends and many foes If, still unsatisfied, he chose to look up my driver, I felt that the man would readily tell all he knew The count had said I was in the affair A confederate? What affair? I could not--indeed, I did not mean to--explain how I came to be with the woman, nor to admit that there was a woh to ht have to face a duel, and that the next day I should hear froentleman But as my handsome and terrified companion, and as the affair?
To refuse to meet him would be social ruin and would seriously affect my usefulness, as I was the only attache who spoke French with entire ease, and it was, as I said, a part of my duty to learn at the clubs and in society the trend of opinion in regard to the ith the rebel States I could do nothing but wait I was the victi situation not of ard to which I could offer no explanation There was nothing left for
I dined that evening withof my adventure On my return home I found Alphonse
”Well,” I said, ”what the deuce becae of the wood, and after hearing what passed I considered that you ht desire to knoho the lady was”
”Yes, I did--I do”
”I overtook her very easily, and as she seemed quite lost, I said I was your servant When I had set her on the avenue she wanted to find, she said I ave me a napoleon, and I was to thank you”
”Did you follow her?”
”No; she seeo on alone I hope monsieur approves”