The florid gentleman's tone and manner were mollifying in the
extreme. Garnache had risen early and ridden far; the smell of
the viands had quickened an appetite already very keen; moreover,
since he and this gentleman were to be allies, it was as well they
should not begin by quarrelling.

He bowed less stiffly, expressed his willingness and his thanks,
laid hat and whip and cloak aside, unbuckled and set down his sword,
and, that done, took at table the place which his host himself
prepared him.

Garnache took more careful stock of the Marquis now. He found much
to like in his countenance. It was frank and jovial; obviously
that of a sensualist, but, leastways, an honest sensualist. He was
dressed in black, as became a man who mourned his father, yet with
a striking richness of material, whilst his broad collar of fine
point and the lace cuffs of his doublet were worth a fortune.

What time they ate Monsieur de Garnache told of his journey from
Paris and of his dealings with Tressan and his subsequent adventures
at Condillac. He dwelt passingly upon the manner in which they had
treated him, and found it difficult to choose words to express the
reason for his returning in disguise to play the knight-errant to
Valerie. He passed on to speak of last night's happenings and of
his escape. Throughout, the Marquis heard him with a grave
countenance and a sober, attentive glance, yet, when he had finished
a smile crept round the sensual lips.

"The letter that I had at Milan prepared me for some such trouble
as this," said he, and Garnache was amazed at the lightness of his