"To
think that I should have a hand in bringing tears to the eyes of that
sweet lady! Quelle besogne! Bon Dieu, quelle besogne!"
I laughed at the distress vented in that whimsical Gascon tongue of
his, whereupon he eyed me in a wonder that was tempered with
admiration. For to his brave soul a gentleman so stoical as to
laugh under such parlous circumstances was very properly a gentleman
to be admired.
CHAPTER X
THE RISEN DEAD
It was close upon ten o'clock as we rode into the yard of the
imposing Hotel de la Couronne at Grenade.
Castelroux engaged a private room on the first floor - a handsome
chamber overlooking the courtyard - and in answer to the inquiries
that I made I was informed by the landlord that Monsieur de Marsac
was not yet arrived.
"My assignation was 'before noon,' Monsieur de Castelroux," said I.
"With your permission, I would wait until noon."
He made no difficulty. Two hours were of no account. We had all
risen very early, and he was, himself, he said, entitled to some
rest.
Whilst I stood by the window it came to pass than a very tall,
indifferently apparelled gentleman issued from the hostelry and
halted for some moments in conversation with the ostler below. He
walked with an enfeebled step, and leaned heavily for support upon
a stout cane. As he turned to reenter the inn I had a glimpse of
a face woefully pale, about which, as about the man's whole figure,
there was a something that was familiar - a something that puzzled
me, and on which my mind was still dwelling when presently I sat
down to breakfast with Castelroux.
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