(2)
Mr. Elphinstone got up from his memoirs when the Chevalier de la Vireville was shown in to him in the library.
"I am afraid that I am interrupting you, sir," said the émigré. "If so, it shall only be for a moment."
"You are not interrupting me at all," returned the old gentleman pleasantly. "I am very glad to see you, M. de la Vireville; pray sit down. But I thought you had started for Jersey."
"I am just about to do so, sir," said La Vireville, obeying him. "I came to take my leave of you and of Anne."
"The child will indeed be sorry to miss you," observed his grandfather. "He was afraid that he might. He has gone away, quite unexpectedly, upon a visit."
"Tiens!" said La Vireville, surprised; "Anne on a visit! That is something new. May one ask where he is gone?"
"He has gone to compatriots—some old friends of his father's at Canterbury. I am glad that the child should have a change of air, for he has been looking a trifle pale lately, so when my son-in-law's letter came I was glad to pack him off—under Elspeth's charge, of course."
But the Frenchman did not seem to be sharing Mr. Elphinstone's pleasure at the change of air. "Canterbury!" he reiterated sharply. "Canterbury! I did not know that René had friends at Canterbury."
"Nor did I, to tell the truth," confessed Mr. Elphinstone. "I do not think, in fact, that he was aware of it himself till he came across them on his way through Canterbury to Dover the other day."