A hurried consultation followed; then Vooght and Dumergue raised their hats and joined me.
“We had best be off,” said Vooght.
“Is he dead?” I asked.
“No,” said Dumergue, with a little disappointment, I thought. “He’ll get over it; but he’s safe for a week or two. Not a bad shot, colonel!”
So I was a colonel!
“Now,” said Vooght, “we’ll drive back, and send you to the countess.”
I had made up my mind to get away from the place as soon as I could, but my curiosity to see the causa belli was too strong, and I said I should be delighted to keep my engagement.
Dumergue smiled significantly, and Vooght hurried us into the carriage. We drove back to the town, and then two or three miles into the country again, till we came to a pretty villa, embowered in trees, and standing some two hundred yards back from the road. There was no drive up to the house, a turf walk forming the passage from the highway. Vooght motioned me to get down.
“Don’t you accompany me?” I asked.