"What an idea, madame!"
"Come, put it to use."
"I certainly have a cousin in Toulouse,--Madame de la Myre."
"The very thing! I am Madame de la Myre."
Then turning round in the carriage she offered her hand to an old man about sixty-five years of age, who seemed waiting till the discussion ended before he showed himself.
"Come, Monsieur de la Myre," said the duchess, "this is a surprise we are giving our cousin, and we arrive just in time to keep his wife's birthday. Come, cousin!"
So saying she jumped lightly out of the carriage and gayly slipped her arm into that of the Comte de Vouillé.
"Yes, come!" said Monsieur de Vouillé, his mind made up to risk the adventure into which the duchess was so joyously rushing. "Come!"
"Wait for me," cried the Baron de Lussac, jumping into the carriage, which he transformed into a dressing-room, and changing his sky-blue livery for a black surtout coat; "don't leave me behind."
"But who the devil are you to be?" asked M. de Vouillé.