'No, thanks. I must get back to Révonde by the first train, so I will ride on with the next patrol to the station. Are they hurt?' he nodded towards the inner room.
'No, but how they escaped the deuce only knows! Madame de Sagan was insensible when we found them.' He dropped his voice. 'By the way, she has been saying some queer things! She declares the driver lashed up the horses and purposely threw himself off the sleigh when they were on the slope of the pine wood just above the Ingern precipice. She swears he meant to kill them!'
'She was frightened. That's all.'
'It was about a certainty they'd be dashed to pieces. And look here——' the young fellow looked oddly at Rallywood, 'she hinted that the Count——'
'Nonsense!' Rallywood forced a laugh. 'She was badly frightened, I tell you.'
'I'll take my oath there's something in it though! She refuses to let us take her back to the Castle to-night.'
'What have you given them—tea or anything?'
'Faith, no! I made them each take a nip of bizutte—far better, too. But we'll have some tea made now if you think they would like it.'
'Of course. It will give them something to do. By the way, you might as well ask them if they would see me.'
On second thought and in view of the Countess's refusal to go back to Sagan, he felt he must offer his assistance.