"Two of your men? . . ."
"Oh, you need not be afraid! They are decent men, old Charolais and his son,[9] and they don't look in the least like what they are. . . . You will be quite safe with them. . . . As for me . . ."
[9] See Arsène Lupin, by Edgar Jepson and Maurice Leblanc.
He hesitated. He was waiting for her to ask him to come again. As she was silent, he said:
"As for me, it is better that I should not be seen here. . . . Yes, it is better . . . for your sake. My men will let me know how things go on. . . ."
He would have liked to say more and to remain and to sit down beside her and comfort her. But he had a feeling that they had said all that they had to say and that a single word more, on his side, would be an insult.
Then he made her a very low bow and went away.
He went up the garden, walking quickly, in his haste to be outside and master his emotion. The footman was waiting for him at the hall-door. As he passed out into the street, somebody rang, a young woman.
He gave a start:
"Geneviève!"