“Quite so; if anything has happened he ought to have let us know.”
“There is nothing to be done, your excellency, we had better go back home,” said the colonel.
“Certainly, there is nothing to be done. However, we can see the calash without him; probably he has not taken it with him. Come here, my man.”
“What does your excellency want?”
“Show us your master’s new calash.”
“Have the kindness to step this way to the coach-house.”
The general entered the coach-house followed by his officers.
“Let me pull it a little forward, your excellency,” said the servant, “it is rather dark here.”
“That will do.”
The general and his officers walked around the calash, carefully inspecting the wheels and springs.