"'Good-day, Viscount de Pontcalec,' said she; 'how is the Marquis de Guer?'
"'Well, good woman; and I shall be quite easy about him, if you will assure me that nothing will happen to him during my absence.'
"'Ah! ah!' said she laughing; 'you have not forgotten the plains of Savernay. You have a good memory, viscount; but yet, if I gave you some advice, you would not follow it any more than the first time. Man is blind.'
"'And what is your advice?'
"'Not to go hunting to-day.'
"'Why not?'
"'And to return at once to Pontcalec.'
"'I cannot; I have a rendezvous with some friends at Chateaubriant.'
"'So much the worse, viscount, for blood will be spilled.'
"'Mine?'