"His intendant, an insolent knave of the name of Rodenard, informed me that this Bardelys projected visiting me.

He has not come, and I devoutly hope that he may not come.

Trouble enough had I to rid myself of his servants, and but for Monsieur de Lesperon's well-conceived suggestion they might still be here." "You have never met him, monsieur ?" inquired the Chevalier.
"Never," replied our host in such a way that any but a fool must have understood that he desired nothing less than such a meeting.
"A delightful fellow," murmured Saint-Eustache--"a brilliant, dazzling personality." "You--you are acquainted with him ?" I asked.
"Acquainted ?" echoed that boastful liar.

"We were as brothers." "How you interest me! And why have you never told us ?" quoth madame, her eyes turned enviously upon the young man--as enviously as were Lavedan's turned in disgust.

"It is a thousand pities that Monsieur de Bardelys has altered his plans and is no longer coming to us.