Maitland seized the card and pitched it into the fire, pressing down the embers with his boot.
Caffarelli sprang forward, and laid his hands on M'Caskey's shoulders.
“When and where?” said the Major, calmly.
“Now—here—if you like,” said Maitland, as calmly.
“At last,” said a deep voice; and a brigadier of the gendarmerie entered, followed by two of his men.
“M. le Comte,” said he, addressing the Major, “I have been in search of you since eleven o'clock. There 's a special train waiting to convey you to Macon; pray don't lose any more time.”
“I shall be at Naples within a fortnight,” whispered Maitland.
“All right,” replied M'Caskey. “M. le Brigadier, à vos ordres. Good-bye, Count. By the way, I was forgetting my cheroots, which are really excellent;” and so saying, he carefully placed them in his cigar-case; and then, giving his great-coat to one of the gendarmes to assist him while he drew it on, he waved a little familiar adieu with his hand and departed.
“My dear Maitland, how could you so far forget yourself, and with such a man?” said Caffarelli, laying his hands on his shoulder.
“With any other man I could not have forgotten myself,” said he, sternly. “Let us think no more of him.”