The four men sat down to the table, which had been copiously covered with dishes of every description. The meal began: the guests ate for a long time without exchanging a word. The newcomers had an imperious necessity to recruit their strength. At length, when the edge was slightly taken off his appetite, Valentine poured out some drink, and addressing his foster brother, began the conversation.
"Why, Louis, do you know that you are not difficult to find in this deuce of a city? Your reputation appears to be enormous."
"How so?" Louis said with a smile.
"By Jove! Everybody knows your address: they only call you the general. I did not need to ask many questions to find this house—everybody offered to guide me. It seems as if affairs are going on well, eh?"
The count smiled softly; but, before replying, he made the servants a sign to leave the room, and when the door was closed upon them,—
"All goes on very well," he said; "but now that you have arrived it will go on better still."
"Ah, ah! You think so?" Valentine said, sipping like an amateur the Bordeaux in his glass.
"I hope so."
"Well, you are not mistaken, brother; I hope so too."
Louis gave a start of joy.