'Sir,' said I, 'you do not know me; but that is of little
consequence. I come to you, charged with a very grave, a very sad
mission, which touches the honour of the name you bear.' Without doubt
he did not believe me, for, in an impertinent tone, he asked me, 'Shall
you be long?' I answered simply, 'Yes.'"
"Pray," interrupted old Tabaret, now become very attentive, "do not omit
a single detail; it may be very important, you understand."
"The viscount," continued Noel, "appeared very much put out. 'The fact
is,' he explained, 'I had already disposed of my time. This is the hour
at which I call on the young lady to whom I am engaged, Mademoiselle
d'Arlange. Can we not postpone this conversation?'"
"Good! another woman!" said the old fellow to himself.
"I answered the viscount, that an explanation would admit of no delay;
and, as I saw him prepare to dismiss me, I drew from my pocket the
count's correspondence, and presented one of the letters to him. On
recognizing his father's handwriting, he became more tractable, declared
himself at my service, and asked permission to write a word of apology
to the lady by whom he was expected.
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