"Very likely," said his companion—"I play the king."
"Is Madame unwell?" asked a young Colonel of Hussars, going up to her with a profound salutation. "Madame appears much agitated."
"I have heard something very strange," stammered the Countess, as she sank into a chair: "the report of a gun!"
"Indeed, Madame!" said the Lieutenant of Police. "That is somewhat strange at this hour of the evening!"
"And it was followed by—by a second," said the Countess.
"Stranger still!" muttered the Lieutenant.
"Pooh! nothing but the fall of some fragment of rock up in the mountains yonder," said the Commander de Fontane, with a gay laugh. "The days of banditti are past. Do not be alarmed, chère petite cousine; Eugène is safe enough, and knows how to take care of himself."
"He should have been here some hours ago, Monsieur," replied the lady.
At this moment the door of the salon was thrown open, and the Majordomo announced that supper was served.
"But the two principal guests are not yet here," cried the Marquis de Florac. "Monsieur le Chevalier de Fontane, and Monsieur le Baron de Pradines!"