"Now, gentlemen," said D'Harville, when the breakfast was finished, "if you will smoke a cigar in my cabinet, you will find some excellent Havannahs there."
They rose from the table, and returned to the cabinet of the marquis. The door of his bedchamber, which communicated with it, was open. We have said the only decoration of the room consisted of two small racks of very beautiful arms.
M. de Lucenay, having lighted a cigar, followed the marquis into his room.
"You see, I am still a great lover of good weapons," said D'Harville to him.
"Yes, and I see you have here some splendid English and French guns. Ma foi! I hardly know which to admire most. Douglas," exclaimed M. de Lucenay, "come and see if these fowling-pieces are not equal to your crack Mantons."
Lord Douglas, Saint-Remy, and the two other guests went into the marquis's room to examine the arms.
M. d'Harville, taking down a duelling-pistol, cocked it, and said, laughingly:
"Here, gentlemen, is the universal panacea for all the ills,—spleen, disgust, weariness."
And as he spoke, jestingly, he placed the muzzle to his lips.
"Ma foi! I prefer another specific," said Saint-Remy; "that is only good in the most desperate cases."