Page:Hope-indiscretions of duchess.djvu/131

Rh “I do not feel sleepy,” said I.

“It is the same for both of us,” he reminded me, shrugging his shoulders. “Well, then, if you are willing—of course you can refuse if you choose—I should like to hear what brought you to Jean’s quarters on foot from Avranches in the middle of the night.”

“You shall hear. I did not desire to meet you, if I could avoid it, and therefore I sought old Jean, with the intention of making him a messenger to you.”

“For what purpose?”

“To restore to you something which has been left on my hands and to which you have a better right than I.”

“Pray, what is that?” he asked, evidently puzzled. The truth never crossed his mind.

“This,” said I; and I took the red leathern box out of my pocket, and set it down on the table in front of the duke. And I put my cigarette between my lips and leaned back in my chair.