“I am really honoured by your kindness. But I cannot go alone.”
“I have also written to ask an old friend, the Baron Giordano Martelli, to breakfast here. He will come at eleven. We will breakfast together, and at twelve, perhaps, you will be kind enough to go and see these gentlemen who have promised to remain at home until three o’clock. Here are their names and addresses.”
Louis handed me two cards as he spoke.
One card represented the Baron René de Chateaugrand, the other M. Adrien de Boissy.
The former lived in the Rue de la Paix, No. 12.
The latter, who I now saw, belonged to the army, was a lieutenant of Chasseurs d’Afrique, and lived in the Rue de Lille, No. 29.
I turned the cards over and over in my fingers.
“Well, what embarrasses you?” asked Louis.
“I should like to be told frankly if you look upon this as a serious matter. You know we must mould our conduct upon that.”
“Indeed, I do consider it a very serious matter. You heard me place myself at M. de Chateau Renaud’s disposal, he has sent to me. I must now go with the current.”