"But why trouble about that?" he added, almost lightly. "What
comes, comes. Now, as to yourself and your mother--and your wife?"
"And those baby!" exclaimed Hector. "Assuredly monsieur does not
forget the finest baby of St. Genevieve? Come, you shall see
Josephine St. Auban Jeanne Marie Fournier--at once, _tout de
suite_. _Voila_!" Hector was rolling down his sleeves and
loosening the string of his leathern apron. Suddenly he turned.
"But, Monsieur," he said, "come, I have news! It is a situation
_un peu difficile_; but it can not be concealed, and what can not
be concealed may best be revealed."
"What news?" asked Dunwody. "More bad news?"
"Not in the least, as we of my household regard it. With monsieur,
I am not so certain. It is _quelque chose un peu difficile, mais
oui_. But then--Monsieur remembers that lady, the Countess--?"
"Countess? Whom do you mean?"
"Who but our madame, the Countess St. Auban in her own right? She
who gave me my Jeanne--_at Tallwoods_, Monsieur! Have you not
known? She is, here.
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