"By chair, monsieur! Pardieu! I had thought we were citizens to-night. Let us walk."
"My dear Baron," expostulated d'Epernon, "my surtout would not stand it, I swear to you!"
"A murrain on your surtout!" retorted Richelieu. "Baron, I accompany you on foot."
"And I also," added Claude. "I wish to ruin my boots completely. I have given Rochard too many things of late."
"A bad idea, Count. Pay your servants, and they leave you at once; it is such a bourgeois thing to do."
"We walk, then?" inquired d'Epernon. "I am sure we must be going to do so when M. de Gêvres addresses M. de Mailly upon the care of servants. Monsieur le Marquis—your servant."
Richelieu and the Baron were already at the door. D'Epernon and Henri followed. There was nothing for it but for the third Duke to accept the companionship of the Count, and prepare to ruin his surtout also. As the small party passed out of the door of the café, Richelieu called over his shoulder:
"Your horse is here, Claude. I had mine sent to my hôtel. Surely you will not attempt to ride back to Versailles to-night. Will you lodge with me?"
"Thank you; but Henri will house me, I think—will you not, cousin?"
"Certainly, Claude. Madame will scarcely have any one in my wing to-night, I think; though I confess that I have not been there for a week."