Last night I was sent to the stable to order the Daumont carriage to be ready to go to Presles at seven this morning.

But when seven o'clock came, Monsieur le comte countermanded it.

Augustin, his valet de chambre, attributes the change to the visit of a lady who called last night, and again this morning,--he thought she came from the country." "Could she have told him anything against Monsieur Moreau ?--the best of men, the most honest of men, a king of men, hey! He might have made a deal more than he has out of his position, if he'd chosen; I can tell you that." "Then he was foolish," answered the valet, sententiously.
"Is Monsieur le Serizy going to live at Presles at last ?" asked Pierrotin; "for you know they have just repaired and refurnished the chateau.

Do you think it is true he has already spent two hundred thousand francs upon it ?" "If you or I had half what he has spent upon it, you and I would be rich bourgeois.

If Madame la comtesse goes there--ha! I tell you what! no more ease and comfort for the Moreaus," said the valet, with an air of mystery.
"He's a worthy man, Monsieur Moreau," remarked Pierrotin, thinking of the thousand francs he wanted to get from the steward.