“Good! I go to Paris.”
“Why? You should go this evening to the ‘jeu du roi;’ it is good policy to keep your ground.”
“No, countess; I must attend a rendezvous, for which I received a note this morning.”
“A rendezvous?”
“Yes, and a serious one, by the contents of the note. Look.”
“A man’s writing,” said the countess; and, opening the note, she read:
“Monseigneur,—Some one wishes to see you about raising an important sum of money. This person will wait on you this evening, at Paris, to solicit the honor of an interview.”
“Anonymous—some beggar?”
“No, countess; no beggar would expose himself to the risk of being beaten by my servants. Besides, I fancy I have seen the writing before. So au revoir, countess.”
“Apropos, monseigneur, if you are going to get a windfall, some large sum, I understand we are to share.”