Part 2 (2/2)

”I do”

There was a curious delicacy about this which was explained when he added: ”She is quite sure to let ain I ventured to h, but I contented h I had my doubts as to whether his theory would fit the case of o to bed, I said to Alphonse: ”You will find in my card-case the card and address of Captain Merton I shall want you to take a note to hi”

He came back with the case in his hand and said: ”I saw you take out a card, sir, ere at 12 Rue du Roi de Rome You looked at it and put it back in the case It is not there now, nor in any of your pockets, but I remember the address Perhaps--” and he paused

”Perhaps what?”

”You gave the very angry gentleain” I could see, by the faint sht uplift of the brow, that one for at least ten minutes Meanwhile I sat still, more and ht bear unpleasant interpretations At length, impatient, I joined Alphonse in his search It was vain He stood at last facing me with a pair of pantaloons on one arm, a coat on the other, all the pockets turned inside out

”Monsieur--circumstances--I mean it is to be feared--I have looked everywhere”

”It is incredible,” said I

”But the night, monsieur, and the storm, and the count, as not polite”

He was sorry for me and perfectly understood what had happened Yes, undoubtedly I had given the count Captain Merton's card I said as much while Alphonse stood still with a look in which his constant sense of the comic contended for expression with his desire to syh to knoas, for ic which has for its catastrophe ridicule

I went back to my salon and sat down to reflect on the consequences of ht, but what ato correct my blunder

Desirous to be on tione out At the Foreign Office I again failed to find hione to his club for breakfast, but would be back very shortly I waited a half-hour and then tried the club He had left Re that I had said I should be at home from eleven to twelve, I looked at my watch and saw, to my annoyance, that it was close to noon I had hoped to anticipate the call of the count's seconds on Merton I felt sure, however, that the captain would simply deny any share in my adventure, and that a word or a note froretted the delay my vain pursuit of the count had caused, a little reflection puta cab, I drove to Captain Merton's I was so fortunate as to find him at home As I entered he threw on the table a number of letters and made me welcome with a certain cordiality which in its manner had both refinement and the open-air frankness of a dweller in ca myself a small man, envied the six feet one of well-knit frame, and was struck with a way he had of quick backward headattention My first i as the absurd situation in which ht have placed hientleman

There was therefore no occasion for haste

We talked pleasantly of home, the war, my uncle, and Paris, and I was about to ard to his card when he said rather abruptly:

”I should like you to advise me as to a rather odd affair--if not too late for advice

”About eleven to-day, the Baron la Garde and a Colonel St Pierre called upon me on the part of a certain Count le Moyne The baron explained that, as a lady was involved, it would be better if it were supposed that we had quarreled at cards As you ine, I rather surprised, and asked what he meant He replied, and not very pleasantly, that I iven my card to the count and said I should be at hoentlemen, but there is some mistake I do not know Count le Moyne, and I never saw hiiven no one my card' I was, of course, very civil and quiet in my denial, and the reeable

”Then the baron, to , 'Do we understand you to say that last night, in the Bois de Boulogne, you did not give Count le Moyne your card?'

”Now I am at ti out I checked entleht I never saw or heard of your count, and you will be so good as to accept for him my absolute denial'

”Upon this the baron said, 'It appears to us that you contradict flatly the statehest character, and that we are therefore forced to suppose that you are endeavoring to escape the consequence of having last night insulted the count'

”Before I could reply, the other man--the colonel--remarked in a casual way that there was only one word to characterize my conduct

Here I broke in--but, for a wonder, kept h Count le Moyne has rather imprudent friends Some one has played me and your principal a trick