"Hullo, here's our dear friend André!" he said when he saw me, in such an indifferent tone that I could detect in it the intentional affectation of a calmness to which his pale countenance gave the lie.
Still he did not hold out his hand to me, nor did I proffer mine; he sat down, indicating to me an arm-chair on the other side of the fire-place.
"What good fortune has brought you here so early this morning?" he continued, taking a few puffs at his cigar.
"Why, I should have thought you expected to see me," I replied, looking him straight in the face.
He returned my look with a smile.
"I expected you, without expecting you, as they say."
By the peculiar tone in which he uttered these words, I could see that he was determined to make me take the initiative in the matter upon which I had come.
"Very well!" I said, wishing to show him that I guessed his mind. "I will explain myself."
"I am all attention, my dear fellow," he answered.
"I have come to speak to you," I continued drily, "about Mademoiselle Kondjé-Gul Murrah, and about what passed yesterday between her and you."