There was an awkward pause when they were gone, and methought from the look
on St. Auban's face that he was about to provoke a fight after all. Not
so, however, for, after staring at us like a clown whilst one might tell a
dozen, he turned and strode to the door, calling for his horse and those of
his companions.
"Au r?voir, M. de Luynes," he said significantly as he got into the saddle.
"Au r?voir, M. de Luynes," said also Malpertuis, coming close up to me.
"We shall meet again, believe me."
"Pray God that we may not, if you would die in your bed," I answered
mockingly. "Adieu!"
CHAPTER VI
OF HOW ANDREA BECAME LOVE-SICK
With what fictions I could call to mind I put off Andrea's questions
touching the peculiar fashion of St. Auban's leave-taking. Tell him the
truth and expose to him the situation whereof he was himself the
unconscious centre I dared not, lest his high-spirited impetuosity should
cause him to take into his own hands the reins of the affair, and thus
drive himself into irreparable disaster.
Andrea himself showed scant concern, however, and was luckily content with
my hurriedly invented explanations; his thoughts had suddenly found
occupation in another and a gentler theme than the ill-humour of men, and
presently his tongue betrayed them when he drew the conversation to the
ladies to whom he had resigned his apartments.
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