“Miss Sarah will talk to me about her marriage.”
“Certainly she will.”
“What can I say?”
“Nothing,--neither yes nor no,--but smile, or run away; at all events,
you gain time.”
He was interrupted by Daniel’s servant, who came in, holding a card in
his hand, and said,--
“Sir, there is a gentleman down stairs in a carriage, who wants to know
if he would interrupt you if he came up to see you.”
“What is the gentleman’s name?”
“Count Ville-Handry. Here is his card.”
“Be quick!” said Daniel, “run down and ask him, would he please come
up.”
M. de Brevan had started up, and was standing, with his hat on, near the
door. As the servant left, he said,--
“I am running away.”
“Why?”
“Because the count must not find me here. You would be compelled to
introduce me to him; he might remember my name; and, if he were to tell
Miss Sarah that I am your friend, all would be lost.”
Thereupon he turned to go; but at the same moment the outer door was
opened, and he said,--
“There is the count! I am caught.”
But Daniel opened promptly the door to his bedroom, pushed him in, and
shut the door. It was high time; the same moment the count entered.