[A] French poste; when used alone the meaning is ambiguous and depends on the context. Hence the misunderstanding.
“Do you mean a donkey post?” asked Monin.
“No, for letters, of course!”
“Oh, yes! on the second street. By the way, I believe—I won’t say for sure, but I’ll tell you——”
“I’ll go there at once; I shall be in time.”
And Monsieur de la Thomassinière rushed from the room as if he would overturn everybody, paying no heed to Destival, who shouted after him:
“Stay here; I’ll send it for you. Besides, your own servants are here.”
The speculator darted out across the fields, and having reached a dense thicket, lay down on the grass and went to sleep, saying to himself:
“A man like me must never have a moment to himself.”
The ladies returned to the salon. Monsieur Destival went down to Bertrand, and Monin, seeing that everybody had left the table, concluded to do likewise and followed his host.