“Who is expected then?”
“Chateau Renaud is still wanting to complete the party.”
“Ah, just so. By-the-by, was there not some bet?”
“Yes. We laid a wager of a supper for twelve, that he would not bring a certain lady here to-night.”
“And who is the lady,” asked the bouquet of myosotis, “who is so very shy as to be made the subject of a bet?”
I looked at Louis de Franchi. He was outwardly composed, but pale as a corpse.
“Faith, I don’t know that there is any great harm in telling you her name, especially as none of you know her I think. She is Madame——”
Louis placed his hand upon D——’s arm.
“Monsieur,” he said; “will you grant me a favour? As a new acquaintance I venture to ask it!”
“What is it, monsieur?”