I know not what I might have said or done, so repentant was I at once for having caused her annoyance, had not a short, sharp exclamation from Dr. Saugrain startled us all:
"'Tis that skulking Osage again. What does he here, Narcisse?"
"He bring note, m'seh, for La Petite," answered Narcisse, rolling his eyes at the unwonted sharpness in his master's tones.
Dr. Saugrain turned at once to mademoiselle.
"Pelagie," he said, "what does this mean? Who is sending you notes by Red Jean?"
Mademoiselle looked up half defiantly, half inclined not to reply to such peremptory questioning in the presence of strangers. But on second thought she answered quite submissively:
"It was the young Chevalier Le Moyne who is staying at Gabriel Cerré's."
"Now, I like not that," said the doctor, hastily; and then bethinking himself, he ordered Narcisse to take away the empty glasses and keep an eye on Red Jean.
"Don't let him get out of your sight as long as he stays about the place; he will be stealing the horses if you don't watch him."
The moment Narcisse had left the room the doctor repeated: