“No, it was hired. He has only one trunk, which will go behind the carriage.”
“This is all very strange. I shall not give any decision before speaking to this man.”
“I will tell him to wait on you.”
Directly afterwards, a brisk-looking young fellow, carrying himself well enough, and clad in a fancy uniform, came in. He told me the tale I had heard from the coachman, and ended by saying that he was sure I would not refuse to accommodate his wife in my carriage.
“Your wife, sir?”
I saw he was a Frenchman, and I addressed him in French.
“God be praised! You can speak my native tongue. Yes, sir, she is an Englishwoman and my wife. I am sure she will be no trouble to you.”
“Very good. I don’t want to start later than I had arranged. Will she be ready at five o’clock?”
“Certainly.”
The next morning when I got into my carriage, I found her already there. I paid her some slight compliment, and sat down beside her, and we drove off.