My promise to the duchess bound me: had it not I doubt whether I should have gone; for my interest was not only in the duchess.
I had my coffee upstairs, and then, putting on my hat, went down for a stroll.

So long as the duke did not come to Avranches, I could show my face boldly--and was not he busy preparing for his guests?
I crossed the threshold of the hotel.
Just at the entrance stood Marie Delhasse; opposite her was a thickset fellow, neatly dressed and wearing mutton-chop whiskers.

As I came out I raised my hat.

The man appeared not to notice me, though his eyes fell on me for a moment.

I passed quickly by--in fact, as quickly as I could--for it struck me at once that this man must be Lafleur, and I did not want him to give the duke a description of the unknown gentleman who was staying at Avranches.