They went back against a tide of people setting in the direction of the room where the buffet was laid out and where little tables were set about for the guests.
Rochefort waited in a corridor whilst Sartines advanced towards Choiseul and buttonholed him.
CHAPTER XI
ROCHEFORT AND CHOISEUL
ROCHEFORT watched the two men. One could make out absolutely nothing from their expressions or movements. Then they turned slowly and walked towards a door on the left of the salon.
Choiseul, with his hand on the door-handle, nodded slightly to his companion, passed through the door, shut it, and Sartines came hurrying towards Rochefort.
“Your interview has been granted. Remember that the letter in your pocket stands between you and social and bodily destruction. Mordieu! remember also your friends, Rochefort, for I will not hide it from you, that, should you fall into Choiseul’s hands, things will go badly with us.”
“Do not worry me with directions, my dear fellow,” said Rochefort. “If I am to do this thing, I must do it in my own way—come.”
He led the way through the door and into a passage leading to a room the door of which was ajar.