He looked at me keenly, and smiled.
“Is that advice entirely disinterested, monsieur?” he asked.
We had both stopped, for here our ways parted.
“You must take the advice for what it is worth,” I replied calmly.
As I spoke, I glanced back and discovered the tall man, who had shadowed mademoiselle, coming along a little behind Pierrot. I glanced at the prince, and saw that he had followed my eyes.
“Your equerry is over-zealous,” I said, a trifle sharply.
He started. “My equerry?” he repeated with affected surprise.
“Yes, monsieur,” I replied coldly, “your equerry. This is not the first time that I have found him in my wake. I trust your Excellency will advise him to give my attendants more elbow-room; they are both Frenchmen, and they cannot become accustomed to Moscovite manners.”
Dolgoruky was annoyed. He was not skilful in the art of dissimulation, and stood frowning, uncertain whether to resent my manner or not.
“It is Tikhon,” he said after a moment. “I will speak to him; he is a stupid fellow, and has probably erred through ignorance.”