Denyse, who was just crossing the courtyard, pointed to her riding-habit.
"Well, you can be sure that in this heat I should not entertain myself by walking about in a cloth dress if I were not going to ride."
"Where are you going?"
"Why?"
"So that we can come and meet you—we two—M. Giraud and I,—at eleven o'clock!"
Just behind Pierrot the tutor's head was to be seen.
"I am going to The Borderettes to take a message to Lavenue," answered Bijou; and then, seeing Giraud, she said pleasantly: "Good morning. I shall see you again, then, soon?"
Patatras was waiting in the shade. The old coachman, who always accompanied Bijou, helped her into her saddle, and then, mounting in his turn, prepared to follow her. When Pierrot saw this, he called out again:
"How is it that none of the cousins are riding with you?"
"I did not tell them that I was going out."