“It has started on the way back three, minutes ago, sir.”
“Fetch it back.”
“Sir! The driver will gallop down the hill; he could not be overtaken.”
“How fortunate!” said I.
“I do not see,” observed Mme. de Saint-Maclou, “that it makes all that difference.”
She seemed hurt at the serious way in which Gustave took her joke.
“If I had told the truth, you wouldn’t have come,” she said in justification.
“Not another word is necessary,” said I, with a bow.
“Then let us sup,” said the duchess, and she took the armchair at the head of the table.
We began to eat and drink, serving ourselves. Presently Gustave entered, stood regarding us for a moment, and then flung himself into the third chair and poured out a glass of wine. The duchess took no notice of him.