“Yes, Père; she was when I stole off. But she has given me directions about dressing her, to go out for a drive—earlier than usual. So I must get back immediately.”
“I’m not going to detain you very long. I chanced to be passing, and thought I might as well have a word with you—seeing it’s the hour when you’re off duty. By the way, I hear you’re about to have grand doings at the Court—a ball, and what not?”
“Oui, m’sieu; oui.”
“When is it to be?”
“On Thursday. Mademoiselle celebrates son jour de naissance—the twenty-first, making her of age. It is to be a grand fête as you say. They’ve been all last week preparing for it.”
“Among the invited Le Capitaine Ryecroft, I presume?”
“O yes. I saw madame write the note inviting him—indeed took it myself down to the hall table for the post-boy.”
“He visits often at the Court of late?”
“Very often—once a week, sometimes twice.”
“And comes down the river by boat; doesn’t he!”