“Of my visit?”
“Yes; two hours ago. It is about that time, is it not, since you were coming here before, when an interruption caused you to postpone the execution of your project?”
Philippe began to experience the same strange sensation with which this man inspired every one.
“Sit down, M. de Taverney,” continued he; “this armchair was placed for you.”
“A truce to pleasantry, sir,” said Philippe, in a voice which he vainly tried to render calm.
“I do not jest, sir.”
“Then a truce to charlatanism. If you are a sorcerer, I did not come to make trial of your skill; but if you are, so much the better, for you must know what I am come to say to you.”
“Oh, yes, you are come to seek a quarrel.”
“You know that? perhaps you also know why?”
“On account of the queen. Now, sir, I am ready to listen;” and these last words were no longer pronounced in the courteous tones of a host, but in the hard and dry ones of an adversary.