"And that was--?"

"I think the Italian gentleman; I am almost sure I recognized his
clothes. I did not see his face, it was turned from me--towards
hers, and very close, I may be permitted to say."

"And they were friendly?"

"More than friendly, I should say. Very intimate indeed. I should
not have been surprised if--when I turned away as a matter of
fact--if he did not touch, just touch, her red lips. It would have
been excusable--forgive me, messieurs."

"Aha! They were so intimate as that? Indeed! And did she reserve
her favours exclusively for him? Did no one else address her, pay
her court on the quiet--you understand?"

"I saw her with the porter, I believe, at Laroche, but only then.
No, the Italian was her chief companion."

"Did any one else notice the flirtation, do you think?"

"Possibly. There was no secrecy. It was very marked. We could all
see."

"And her mistress too?"

"That I will not say. The lady I saw but little during the
journey."