“Ah, my dear de Monpres, I am afraid it will take a great deal more than that to efface from my mind the fearful incidents of to-night. I feel myself to be a guilty wretch, an assassin, and murderer.”
“Mon Dieu, monsieur, you are talking in a wild, incoherent manner. Assassin and murderer—bah! Be reasonable if you please. Don’t talk in such a false and ridiculous strain. Come, here we are at our domicile. Jump out, and come in—ha, ha! and make your life happy. I won’t have you accuse yourself thus wrongfully. Murder—bah! it is ridiculous.”
The chevalier rattled on in his accustomed vivacious and loquacious manner, endeavouring as best he could to reassure the earl, who was, however, despite his friend’s playful pleasantries, greatly troubled at the tragic event of the evening. He, however, strove to play up to the exuberant Frenchman, and upon entering the house he drained off in rapid succession several glasses of champagne. Under the influence of the sparkling wine he became greatly exhilarated, and was enabled to listen with something like satisfaction to the lively discourse of his companion, the chevalier.
An hour or so passed away, and then the earl remembered the promise he had given to Theresa.
Making the best excuse he could, he rose to take his departure, but De Monpres did not feel disposed to part with him, and pressed him to remain at the chateau for the remainder of the night.
“You can return to the widow’s residence as early as you choose in the morning,” said the chevalier.
“I am under a pledge to be back early to-night,” answered Ethalwood, “and I am quite sure you will excuse me.”
“When a lady’s in the case all things must give place,” observed his companion, “and therefore I will let you have your own way—but I don’t care about your going alone, so with your permission I will drive you there, and see you safely housed. What say you?”
Ethalwood hesitated for a brief period, and then said—
“Perhaps you are right. All things considered it would, perhaps, be just as well for me to have a companion, and I cannot have a better one than yourself.”