Pagina 273 di 896

"Outside the blinds. Open the blinds."

It was done.

"Well?"

"Monseigneur, it is nothing. The trees and the night are all that

are here."

The servant who spoke, had thrown the blinds wide, had looked out

into the vacant darkness, and stood with that blank behind him,

looking round for instructions.

"Good," said the imperturbable master. "Close them again."

That was done too, and the Marquis went on with his supper. He

was half way through it, when he again stopped with his glass in

his hand, hearing the sound of wheels. It came on briskly, and

came up to the front of the chateau.

"Ask who is arrived."

It was the nephew of Monseigneur. He had been some few leagues

behind Monseigneur, early in the afternoon. He had diminished the

distance rapidly, but not so rapidly as to come up with

Monseigneur on the road. He had heard of Monseigneur, at the

posting-houses, as being before him.