Sarah had scarcely left the notary before M. Charles Robert entered, after alighting from a very dashing cabriolet. He went like a person on most intimate terms to the private room of Jacques Ferrand.
The commandant, as Madame Pipelet called him, entered without ceremony into the notary's cabinet, whom he found in a surly, bilious mood, and who thus accosted him:
"I reserve the afternoon for my clients; when you wish to speak to me come in the morning, will you?"
"My dear lawyer" (this was a standing pleasantry of M. Robert), "I have a very important matter to talk about in the first place, and, in the next, I was anxious to assure you in person against any alarms you might have—"
"What alarms?"
"What! Haven't you heard?"
"What?"
"Of my duel—"
"Your duel?"
"With the Duke de Lucenay. Is it possible you have not heard of it?"