"With great pleasure; but there are some poor things of mine at the cabaret yonder I should like to have by me."
"I will send a man for your baggage," said the Count.
"Then I shall have nothing to mar my happiness," said Monsieur de Pepicot composedly.
I was very anxious to remain at the chateau for the present, and feared rather dismissal than the enforced continuance there which the long-nosed man had fancied might be our fate. So, to make sure, I said:
"If Monsieur the Count will do me the honour of a game to-morrow, I will try to make a better contest than I did against Monsieur de Pepicot."
The Count looked not displeased at this; it gave him somebody to beat in the event of his being again defeated by Monsieur de Pepicot.
"Certainly," said he; "I cannot refuse you. You too will remain my guest; and if I may send for your baggage also—"
I felt vaguely that it would be better to leave my horse and belongings at the inn at Montoire, in case I should ever wish to make a stealthy departure from the chateau; so I replied:
"I thank you, Monsieur; but there is nothing I have urgent need for, or of such great value that I would keep it near."
"As you please," said the Count, observing me keenly with his half-ambushed eyes.