"Madame la Princesse is not visible," said this personage, so hurriedly that he had not time to salute the gentleman; "she is in bed, and has given positive orders that no one be admitted."
"Who are you?" said Canolles, eying the new-comer from head to foot. "And who taught you to speak to a gentleman with your hat on your head?"
As he asked the question Canolles coolly removed the man's hat with the end of his cane.
"Monsieur!" cried the latter, stepping back with dignity.
"I asked you who you are."
"I am—I am, as you can see by my uniform, captain of her Highness's guards."
Canolles smiled. He had had time to scrutinize his interlocutor, and saw that he was dealing with some butler with a paunch as round as his bottles, some prosperous Vatel imprisoned in an official doublet, which, from lack of time, or superabundance of belly, was not properly secured.
"Very good, master captain of the guards," said Canolles, "pick up your hat and answer."
The captain executed the first branch of Canolles' injunction like one who had studied that excellent maxim of military discipline: "To know how to command, one must know how to obey."
"Captain of the guards!" continued Canolles. "Peste! that's a fine post to hold!"