"Am I? I wonder?" Her gaze flitted to the Doll; she said appreciatively: "I like a man to be a judge of horseflesh. What's her breeding?"
"I haven't a notion," replied the Colonel. "To tell you the truth, she is out of my brother's stable."
"I thought I knew her. But this is abominable! How was I to guess you would steal one of Worth's horses? I consider you to have won almost by a trick! She's the devil to go, isn't she? Does he know you have her out?"
"Not yet," admitted the Colonel. "My dependence is all on his being still too delighted at having me restored to him to object."
She laughed. "You deserve to be thrown out of doors! I believe that to be the mare he habitually rides himself!"
"Oh, it won't come to that!" said the Colonel. "I shall implore my sister-in-law's intercession. That is a nice fellow you have there."
She passed her hand over the grey's neck. "Yes, this is Coup de Grace. We are in the same case, only that while you stole your lady, I have been lent this gentleman."
"Whom does he belong to?" asked the Colonel, running an eye over his points. "He may have a French name, but I'll swear he's of English breeding."
"Captain de Lavisse bought him in England last year," she replied with one of her sidelong looks.
"Did he?" said the Colonel. "Captain de Lavisse - is he the man who was standing beside you last night, when I first met you?"