"Where had he seen me, may I ask?"
"They say that it was on the way from Libourne to Chantilly, at a village called Jaulnay; but the interview was cut short, as the gentleman received an order from Monsieur d'Épernon to start at once for Mantes."
"But if this gentleman had seen me before, Monsieur le Duc, how could he have failed to recognize me?"
"Ah! the famous they of whom I spoke just now, and who have an answer for every question, would say that the thing was possible, as the interview took place in the dark."
"Really, Monsieur le Duc," said the viscountess, in dismay, "I am at a loss to understand what you mean by that."
"In that case," rejoined the duke, with assumed good-nature, "I must have been ill-informed; and then, what does a mere momentary encounter amount to, after all? It is true, madame," he added gallantly, "that your face and figure are calculated to leave a deep impression, even after an interview lasting only an instant."
"But that would not be possible," the viscountess retorted, "if, as you yourself say, the interview took place in the dark."
"Very true, and you parry cleverly, madame. I must be the one who is mistaken, then, unless the young man had noticed you even before the interview at Jaulnay, which in that case would not be precisely a meeting."
"What would it be, then? Be careful of your words, Monsieur le Duc."