The duke smiled. This sturdy defence made him sharpen up his own wits.
"And to Lenet," he said, "and Richon, and Madame de Tourville, to say nothing of a certain Vicomte de Cambes, whose name I heard for the first time in connection with this matter. To be sure, as he is your brother, you might tell me that the secret was all in the family."
Claire began to laugh, to avoid irritating the duke, whose smile was beginning to show signs of vanishing.
"Do you know one thing, duke?" said she.
"No, tell it me; and if it is a secret, madame, I promise to be as discreet as yourself, and tell it to no one but my staff."
"Do as you please about that; I ask nothing better, although I thereby run the risk of making an enemy of a great princess, whose hatred would be no pleasant thing to incur."
The duke blushed imperceptibly.
"Well, what is this secret?" said he.
"Do you know whom Madame la Princesse selected for my companion in the journey I was asked to undertake?"