But who was she?
He was manoeuvering cleverly in the hope of ascertaining this
point, when a carriage was heard driving into the courtyard below.
"Monsieur must have returned!" exclaimed the valet, darting to the
window.
Chupin also ran to look out, and saw a very elegant blue-lined
brougham, drawn by a superb horse, but he did not perceive the
viscount. In point of fact, M. de Coralth was already climbing
the stairs, four at a time, and, a moment later, he entered the
room, angrily exclaiming, "Florent, what does this mean? Why have
you left all the doors open?"
Florent was the servant in the red waistcoat. He slightly
shrugged his shoulders like a servant who knows too many of his
master's secrets to have anything to fear, and in the calmest
possible tone replied, "If the doors are open, it is only because
the baroness has just sent some flowers. On Sunday, too, what a
funny idea! And I have been treating Father Moulinet and this
worthy fellow" (pointing to Chupin) "to a glass of wine, to
acknowledge their kindness in assisting me."
Fearing recognition, Chupin hid his face as much as possible; but
M. de Coralth did not pay the slightest attention to him. There
was a dark frown on his handsome, usually smiling countenance, and
his hair was in great disorder. Evidently enough, something had
greatly annoyed him. "I am going out again," he remarked to his
valet, "but first of all I must write two letters which you must
deliver immediately.
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