"What is the matter, marquis?" asked Gerald, in a manner that was both deferential and affectionate.
"Have you any cigars?"
"Plenty of them, marquis."
"Well, my dear Gerald, these gentlemen and I are dying to smoke. Won't you take us up to your rooms?"
"Certainly," replied Gerald, gaily. "I have no engagement for this dance, so I have a quarter of an hour at my disposal."
"That is all the time we shall need," said the hunchback, with a meaning look at Mornand and Ravil. "Come, gentlemen," he added, taking Gerald's arm and walking on ahead of the future minister and his friend.
A minute or two afterwards the four gentlemen reached Gerald's apartments, which consisted of three rooms,—one, extremely large, on the third floor of the house.
The young duke having politely begged Messieurs de Mornand and de Ravil to pass in first, M. de Maillefort, locking the door and slipping the key in his pocket, remarked to Gerald:
"Allow me, my friend."
"But why do you lock the door, M. le marquis," asked Gerald, greatly surprised.