“Where did you go, my lad,” inquired Monsieur Gramont, “yesterday evening, just after dusk?”
The boy looked all round him for help, he grew pale, and remained silent.
“Oh!” said Monsieur Gramont, “are you another dummy? Do you know, if you do not find your tongue, I will find a most effectual restorer of speech.”
A friend stepped into the chamber to the great relief of the culprit, with an easy, unembarrassed countenance, and faced Monsieur Gramont without flinching; this friend to Joseph was pretty Julia Plessis.
“You frighten the lad, Monsieur Gramont,” said Julia, patting the boy’s head; “don’t be alarmed, Joseph, tell Monsieur le Maire that you did what you were told to do, and obeyed your mistress.”
“I should be sorry, mademoiselle,” said Bertram Gramont, “to do anything displeasing to Madame Coulancourt. So I will let this lad go about his business, as it matters very little his confirmation of a fact. I am aware he went to guide or bring back a pony, one on which Louis Lebeau left this château. Perhaps, mademoiselle, you could tell me where the said Louis Lebeau went to.”
“Really, Monsieur Gramont,” returned Julia demurely, “you seem so very well informed of the movements of all here, that any information from me would be idle.”
“Well, then, mademoiselle, I will not trouble you, except with a message to Madame Coulancourt. Will you be so good as to say I shall feel gratified if she will favour me with an interview? I request this as a favour, not as a duty that I have to perform.”
“Certainly, Monsieur Gramont,” said Julia; “if you will please to come into the saloon I will inform madame of your request.”
“Is your father in the château, mademoiselle?” said Monsieur le Maire, as Julia ushered him into the principal saloon.