He bowed. “I shall endeavour to make you comfortable, ma’am. We must now decide what were best to do. Will you not be seated?”
“You are breakfasting, sir, are you not?”
“Pray do not regard it, ma’am; I have had all I need.”
Miss Challoner’s eyes twinkled. “I, sir, on the other hand, am fasting.”
He slightly pressed her hand. “Believe me, I perfectly understand that food at this moment is repugnant to you. Let us be seated by the fire.”
Miss Challoner said meekly: “Food is by no means repugnant to me, Mr. Comyn. Pray allow me to share your breakfast. I am very hungry.”
He looked rather surprised, but at once handed her to a chair by the table. “Why, certainly, ma’am! I will send to procure you a clean cup and plate.” He went to the door and nearly fell over the serving-maid, who had not yet abandoned hope of catching a phrase spoken in her own tongue. His command of the French language being what it was, he was unable to deliver a rebuke, but he managed to ask for a cup and plate.
When these were brought Miss Challoner poured herself out some coffee, and spread butter on a roll. She proceeded to make a hearty meal. Mr. Comyn was assiduous in plying her with food, but he could not help feeling in a dim way that her attitude in face of a dramatic situation was a trifle mundane. Miss Challoner, biting a crust with her little white teeth, had also her private thoughts, and remembered other meals partaken in the company of a gentleman. This gave her a heartache, and since she had no notion of indulging in such a weakness, she said briskly: “Where are we to be married, sir? How soon can we leave Paris?”
Mr. Comyn poured her out another cup of coffee. “I have considered the matter, ma’am, and I have two plans to submit to you. It must, of course, be as you wish. We can, if you like, return to England, where I apprehend there will be no difficulty in arranging our immediate nuptials. I should point out to you, however, that in England our marriage must necessarily give occasion for comment The alternative is to travel to Dijon, and there to find the English divine, whose direction was given to me by Lord Vidal. Should you choose this course, ma’am, I suggest that following upon the ceremony we should journey into Italy for a space. Against this scheme must be set my natural scruples, which urge me not to make use of the information provided by his lordship.”
“I don’t think that need trouble you,” said Miss Challoner matter-of-factly. “Which of these plans do you prefer?”