Jasper said: "Confound Kitty Lavender!"
Then some one intervened. A big bay horse drew up on the other side of the curricle, and a man in black saluted Cousin Rose.
"All the sunshine to you, Mees Benham."
"Why, Chevalier, is it you? What a man for being here, there, and everywhere. Jasper, you know the Chevalier de Rothan."
The two men stared at each other. They had met before in a casual way.
"Mr. Benham—a broken arm, I hear."
His hard, handsome, insolent face had a look of amused tolerance.
"I come to see your brave men drill. And to think that it is against my France! Poor France. Some day I shall return to her. But picture my château; a black shell in mourning. Yes; rightly in black."
He looked grave and melancholy. Rose's eyes wandered over him.
"Still in black, Chevalier?"