"What sort of man is he? a nobleman, a fop, a fine gentleman?"
"A fine gentleman, monsieur; noble, I think."
"Undoubtedly," rejoined the colonel with emphasis. "Monsieur de Ramière! Tell me, Louis," he added, lowering his voice, "have you ever seen this fop prowling about here?"
"Last night, monsieur," Louis replied, with an embarrassed air, "I certainly saw—as to its being a fop, I can't say, but it was a man, sure enough."
"And you saw him?"
"As plainly as I see you, under the windows of the orangery."
"And you didn't fall upon him with the handle of your shovel?"
"I was just going to do it, monsieur; but I saw a woman in white come out of the orangery and go to meet him. At that I said to myself: 'Perhaps it's monsieur and madame, who have taken a fancy to walk a bit before daybreak;' and I went back to bed. But this morning I heard Lelièvre talking about a thief whose tracks he had seen in the park, and I said to myself: 'There's something under this.'"
"And why didn't you tell me immediately, stupid?"
"Dame! monsieur, there are some things in life that are so delicate!"