There was a quick up-and-down movement of the long grey eyes, and he answered:
'I was ill, monsieur; I trust Monsieur le Chevalier is not hurt?'
'Hurt! Why should I be?'
'Monsieur will pardon me, but I thought it possible.'
'How so?'
'Monsieur's clothes were dripping wet when I first came in, and his rapier stained full six inches from the point when I drew it out of its sheath to clean it this morning. It looked like an arm-thrust, and I thought——'
'Never mind what you thought. I had a slight affair last night, but was not hurt.' It was clear to me that he was trying to carry the war into my country, as it were, by counter-questions to mine. I therefore cut him short, and added:
'Your illness came and went very suddenly. Are you often taken that way?'
'Then Monsieur knows——'
'A great many things, perhaps; but kindly answer my question.'