"
I trembled as I watched him, waiting for his reply, and I thanked Heaven
that in the r?le I had assumed a mask was worn, not only because it hid my
features, but because it hid the emotions which these might have betrayed.
"I was beginning to fear," he replied coldly, and without so much as
looking at me, "that worse had befallen you."
I breathed again.
"You mean--?"
"Pooh, nothing," said he half contemptuously. "Only methinks 't were well
whilst we remain at Canaples that you do not spend your nights in a room
within such easy access of the terrace."
"Your advice no doubt is sound, but as I shall not spend another night at
Canaples, it comes too late."
"You mean, Monsieur--?"
"That we set out for Paris to-day."
He shrugged his shoulders.
"Oh, ?a! I have just visited the stables, and there are not four horses
fit for the journey. So that unless you have in mind the purchase of fresh
animals--"
"Pish! My purse is not bottomless," I broke in, repeating the very words
that I heard St. Auban utter.
"So you said once before, Monsieur. Still, unless you are prepared to take
that course, the only alternative is to remain here until the horses are
sufficiently recovered.
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