“I had the misfortune to lose him; and as I was taking the body to
my house, in Briseville, I came round this way so as not to miss our
appointment. But you can see that I cannot wait any longer.”
Then one of the sportsmen, bolder than the rest said:
“Well, but--since he is dead--it seems to me that he can wait a day
longer.”
The others chimed in:
“That cannot be denied.”
M. d'Arnelles appeared to be relieved of a great weight, but a little
uneasy, nevertheless, he asked:
“But, frankly--do you think--”
The three others, as one man, replied:
“Parbleu! my dear boy, two days more or less can make no difference in
his present condition.”
And, perfectly calmly, the father-in-law turned to the undertaker's
assistant, and said:
“Well, then, my friend, it will be the day after tomorrow.”