"Oh, to be sure. Captain Ferragant, if you will excuse me,—"
The Captain, with a shrug, swaggered off to the furthest corner of the hall.
"You have been acquainted," I began, "with a certain Monsieur de Merri."
The Count's face seemed to jump. I had certainly caught his attention. But his speech was perfectly controlled as he said:
"Yes. And what of him?"
"He had the misfortune to be killed in a sudden duel four days ago at La Flèche."
He was plainly startled; but, after a moment's silence, he only said, "You astonish me," and waited for me to continue.
"I feared I should," said I, "for it turned out, after the duel, that Monsieur de Merri was on his way to see you, upon some matter of great urgency."
"On his way to see me! How do you know that?"
I thought it best to tell as much truth as possible.