“Eh?”
“I saw him in communication with the police at the Governor's hotel last night,” I answered.
Nick was silent for a moment.
“Well,” he said, “that may make some excitement.” Then he laughed. “I wonder why Auguste didn't think of doing that,” he said. “And now, what?”
“How did you get to this house?” I said.
“We came down on Saturday night, after we had lost Gignoux above the city.”
“Do you know where you are?” I asked.
“Not I,” said Nick. “I have been playing piquet with Lamarque most of the time since I arrived. He is one of the pleasantest men I have met in Louisiana, although a little taciturn, as you perceive, and more than a little deaf. I think he does not like Auguste. He seems to have known him in his youth.”
Madame la Vicomtesse looked at him with interest.
“You are at Les Îles, Nick,” I said; “you are on Monsieur de St. Gré's plantation, and within a quarter of a mile of his house.”