"Tell me his name."
"Oh, by all means—Captain Dieppe."
"Ah, I 've heard of him. He was in Brazil, was n't he?"
"Yes, and in Bulgaria."
"Spain too, I fancy?"
"Dear me, I was n't aware of that," said Guillaume, with some vexation. "But it's neither here nor there. Can I count on your assistance?"
"But what the devil does he pretend to be the Count for?"
"Forgive the supposition, but perhaps he imagined that your business was what mine is. Then he would like to throw you off the scent by concealing his identity."
"By heaven, and I nearly—!"
"Nearly did what, dear M. de Roustache?" said old Guillaume very softly. "Nearly dragged in the name of Madame la Comtesse, were you going to say?"