I trembled as I watched him, waiting for his reply, and I thanked Heaven that in the rôle I had assumed a mask was worn, not only because it hid my features, but because it hid the emotions which these might have betrayed.
“I was beginning to fear,” he replied coldly, and without so much as looking at me, “that worse had befallen you.”
I breathed again.
“You mean—?”
“Pooh, nothing,” said he half contemptuously. “Only methinks 't were well whilst we remain at Canaples that you do not spend your nights in a room within such easy access of the terrace.”
“Your advice no doubt is sound, but as I shall not spend another night at Canaples, it comes too late.”
“You mean, Monsieur—?”
“That we set out for Paris to-day.”
He shrugged his shoulders.
“Oh, ça! I have just visited the stables, and there are not four horses fit for the journey. So that unless you have in mind the purchase of fresh animals—”