He held out his right hand, which she shook warmly.
At this moment they heard a step that Mlle. Moriaz at once recognised, and Count Larinski appeared from the walk bordering the house. Antoinette hastened to meet him, and led him forward by laying hold of the tip of his glove, which he was in the act of drawing off.
“Gentlemen,” said she, “I do not need to present you to each other; you are already acquainted.”
It is a very difficult thing to lead two men who do not like each other into conversation: the present effort proved a total failure. Fortunately for all parties, M. Moriaz shortly made his appearance at the end of the terrace, and M. Langis arose to join him. Antoinette remained alone with Samuel Brohl, who at once rather brusquely asked:
“Has M. Langis the intention of remaining here forever?”
“He has only just arrived,” she replied.
“And you will send him away soon?”
“I thought so little of sending him away that I asked him to dinner, in order to give you an opportunity of becoming more fully acquainted with him.”
“I thank you for your amiable intentions, but M. Langis pleases me little.”
“What have you against him?”