"We do not know, signor. She will not have a doctor, but sits and pines."
"Ah! no doubt," said the duke to himself.
"Will the signor condescend to honor our poor shed by coming under its roof, where he may for himself see the signora?" said the vine-dresser, with much courtesy.
"Thanks, no. Back to the hotel!" he added, to the driver, who immediately turned his horse's head to the village.
With a parting nod to the courteous vine-dresser, the duke sank back on his seat, closed his eyes, and gave his mind up to thought.
Volaski had gone back to Paris. Why had he left Valerie and gone there? To resign his position in the embassy? To settle up business previous to taking up his permanent abode in Italy? Or had he returned so quickly to Paris only to conceal his crime and deceive the world into the opinion that he had not been out of Paris.
The duke did not know what his motive for so sudden a return could be; but judged the last-mentioned theory of causes to be the most probable.
"I do not know what else the caitiff has gone back for; but I know one thing—he has gone there to give me satisfaction," said the duke, grimly, to himself.
The horse, with the prospect of stall and fodder before him, made much better time in going home than in coming away, and so, in less than half an hour, the rumbling vehicle drew up before the little hotel.
The landlord himself came out to meet the returning traveler.