“Bébelle goes very well. You are warm, lieutenant; don’t you want me to take the reins?”
“No, I like to drive.”
“We shall be at Monsieur Destival’s by eleven o’clock.”
“That is quite early enough; and from that time until five o’clock, when we dine—But I promised a long while ago. At all events, Madame Destival is an excellent musician, and we will try to amuse ourselves while we are waiting for dinner.”
“Why did you bring me, lieutenant? I can’t play or sing, and as I don’t belong in the salon, where am I to do sentry-duty?”
“Never fear; Monsieur Destival expressly requested me to bring you. He has become infatuated with hunting, and he wants you to teach him to handle a gun.”
“Very well, lieutenant, I’ll teach him all I know; that won’t take long.”
“Poor Virginie! What a rage she will be in to-night! I promised to take her to Feydeau——”
“She has often promised you things, and then broken her word.”
“How do you know that, Bertrand?”