Grancey and d'Amoreau came in.
"Curses on that black beetle," exclaimed the latter.
"Amen," profoundly echoed the former. "If it were not for the Princess I would feed my rapier with him."
"He has no right to such an honour; I would have him whipped by the lackeys. Répentigny, he has got her to take us back to the Palace to-morrow morning, and spoilt all our pleasure."
"That seems to be his vocation," Germain answered with warmth. "I would undertake to punish him myself."
"On a wager of ten to two half-louis?"
"Accepted."
The two officers laughed uproariously at the prospect.
"Répentigny, if you do this," cried Grancey, "we will speak for you to the King for something good."
After dinner Madame proposed a promenade in the park. Strolling in procession, they came to some marble steps by the lakeside, where the host proposed that the young men should take boats and row the ladies about, and he assigned Germain to Cyrène.