"You have been absent a long time," the Count remarked on his return.
"I had some important business to settle," he replied.
The Count, without adding a word, resumed his walk up and down the room which Bouillot's return had interrupted.
There was a momentary silence, Bouillot was evidently embarrassed, he went about the room, pretending to arrange sundry articles of furniture, and disarranging everything; at last seeing that the Count obstinately remained silent and would not perceive that he was in the room, he placed himself in front of him so as to bar his passage, and looked at him intently as he whispered with a stress on the words.
"You do not ask where I have been."
"What is the use?" the Count replied carelessly; "About your own business, of course."
"No, my lord, about yours."
"Ah!" he said.
"Yes, the Seamew awaits you."
The Count smiled and slightly shrugged his shoulders.