"No indeed, there are a great many!" replied Judith, smiling. "But the thing is that Miss Devenish, like me, arrived too late to take part in this set. You will not see her standing about again tonight, I assure you."
"That's right! Always dance while you may."
"How long will that be, Duke?" enquired Judith.
"Oh, now you are asking me more than I can tell you! For as long as you please, I daresay."
He nodded, and passed on. The cotillion came to an end soon after, and as Barbara walked off the floor Colonel Audley went forward to meet her.
She held out her hand to him. "Wretch! Do you know how confoundedly late you are?"
"Yes. Have you kept my waltzes?"
"Oh, I am in a charming humour! You may have as many as you please."
"All, then. How do you do, Lavisse? How do you go on in your neighbourhood?"
The Count shrugged. "Oh, parbleu! We watch the frontier, and grow excited at the mere changing of an advance guard. And you? What news have you?"