During this time the equipages had drawn up before the porch. The general got out of his carriage and shook himself, followed by the colonel, arranging the feathers in his hat. After him came the stout major, his sabre under his arm, and the slim lieutenants, whilst the mounted officers also alighted.
“The master is not at home,” said a servant appearing at the top of a flight of steps.
“What! not at home; but he is coming home for dinner, is he not?”
“No, he is not; he has gone out for the day and will not be back till this time to-morrow.”
“Bless me,” said the general; “but what the deuce—”
“What a joke,” said the colonel laughing.
“No, no, such things are inconceivable,” said the general angrily. “If he could not receive us, why did he invite us?”
“I cannot understand, your excellency, how it is possible to act in such a manner,” observed a young officer.
“What?” said the general, who always made an officer under the rank of captain repeat his remarks twice over.
“I wondered, your excellency, how any one could do such a thing.”