"Hopes of what?"

"That he will make what reparation lies in his power. Provide for
the widow and the orphans. Why else should he desire to hear me
further?"

"Unusual condescension," said Andre-Louis, and quoted "Timeo Danaos
et dona ferentes."

"Why?" asked Philippe.

"Let us go and discover - unless you consider that I shall be in
the way."

Into a room on the right, rendered private to M. le Marquis for so
long as he should elect to honour it, the young men were ushered by
the host. A fire of logs was burning brightly at the room's far
end, and by this sat now M. de La Tour d'Azyr and his cousin, the
Chevalier de Chabrillane. Both rose as M. de Vilmorin came in.
Andre-Louis following, paused to close the door.

"You oblige me by your prompt courtesy, M. de Vilmorin," said the
Marquis, but in a tone so cold as to belie the politeness of his
words. "A chair, I beg. Ah, Moreau?" The note was frigidly
interrogative. "He accompanies you, monsieur?" he asked.

"If you please, M. le Marquis."

"Why not? Find yourself a seat, Moreau." He spoke over his shoulder