Volume II Part 22 (1/2)
”And to Countess M'Gregor?”
”Likewise; here is the answer.”
”And to Countess d'Orbigny?”
”She is much obliged; she arrived yesterday from Normandy, she did not expect an answer so soon; here is her letter. I have also been to the Marquis d'Harville's steward, as he required, for the charges of the contract I signed the other day at the hotel.”
”You told him that it was not pressing?”
”Yes, but he would pay it. There is the money. Ah! I forgot that this card was here, below, at the porter's; the words in pencil written underneath by the porter; this gentleman asked for M. Ferrand; he left this.”
”'WALTER MURPHY,'” read the chief clerk; and then in pencil, ”'_Will return at three o'clock on important business_.' I do not know this name.”
”Oh! I forgot,” continued Chalomel; ”M. Badinot said it was all right, that M. Ferrand should do as he pleased; that would be always right.”
”He did not give a written answer?”
”No, sir, he said he hadn't time.”
”Very well.”
”M. Charles Robert will also come in the course of the day to speak to the governor; it appears he fought a duel yesterday with the Duke of Lucenay.”
”Is he wounded?”
”I believe not, or they would have told me of it at his house.”
”Look! here is a carriage stopping.”
”Oh! the fine horses, are they not mettlesome.”
”And the fat English coachman, with his white wig and brown livery, with silver lace and epaulets like a colonel!”
”An emba.s.sador, surely.”
”And the cha.s.seur, has not he enough silver lace?”
”And grand mustachios.”
”Hold!” said Chalomel, ”it is the carriage of the Viscount de Saint Remy.”
”Ain't it stylish? Whew!”
Soon afterward Saint Remy entered the office. We have described the charming face, the exquisite elegance, the ravis.h.i.+ng bearing of Saint Remy, arrived the previous evening from Arnouville Farm, belonging to the d.u.c.h.ess Lucenay, where he had found a refuge from the bailiffs.
Saint Remy entered the office hastily, his hat on, his manner haughty and proud, his eyes half closed, asking, in a very impertinent way, without looking at any one, ”The notary? where is he?”
”M. Ferrand is busy in his private office,” answered the head clerk; ”if you will wait a moment, sir, he will receive you.”
”I wait?”