Idly
I inquired how the rumour had been spread, and he told me that a
riderless horse, which had been captured a few days ago by some
peasants, had been recognized by Monsieur de Bardelys's servants as
belonging to their master, and that as nothing had been seen or
heard of him for a fortnight, it was believed that he must have met
with some mischance. Not even that piece of information served to
arouse my interest. Let them believe me dead if they would. To
him that is suffering worse than death to be accounted dead is a
small matter.
The next day passed without incident. Mademoiselle's absence
continued and I would have questioned the Vicomte concerning it,
but a not unnatural hesitancy beset me, and I refrained.
On the morrow I was to leave Lavedan, but there were no preparations
to be made, no packing to be done, for during my sojourn there I
had been indebted to the generous hospitality of the Vicomte for my
very apparel. We supped quietly together that night the Vicomte
and I - for the Vicomtesse was keeping her room.
I withdrew early to my chamber, and long I lay awake, revolving a
gloomy future in my mind. I had given no thought to what I should
do after having offered my explanation to Monsieur de Marsac on the
morrow, nor could I now bring myself to consider it with any degree
of interest. I would communicate with Chatellerault to inform him
that I accounted my wager lost. I would send him my note of hand,
making over to him my Picardy estates, and I would request him to
pay off and disband my servants both in Paris and at Bardelys.
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