Angelot looked hard at the man for a moment. He sat squarely, twisting his whip in his hands, on one of Monsieur Joseph's old Louis Quinze chairs, which seemed hardly fit to bear his weight. The delicate atmosphere of old France was all about him. Angelot and his uncle were incarnations of it, even in their plain shooting clothes; and the Prefect, the Baron de Mauves, was worthy in looks and manners of the old régime from which he sprang. The other man was a son of the Revolution and of a butcher at Marseilles. With his glittering uniform, his look of a coarse Roman, he was the very type of military tyranny at its worst, without even the good manners of past days to soften the frank insolence of a soldier. "Voilà l'Empire! I wish my father could see him!" Angelot thought. Monsieur Joseph looked at his nephew. His sweet smile had faded, a sudden shadow of anxiety taking its place. How would Angelot bear with this man? Would he remember that in spite of all provocation he must be treated civilly? The Prefect also glanced up a little nervously at Angelot as he stood. Had the handsome, attractive boy any share at all of his father's wisdom and faultless temper? Angelot was conscious of both these warnings. He answered the little uncle's with a smile, and said easily--"It is possible--I cannot tell. As to the wine--I will ask your opinion after breakfast, monsieur." The Prefect's face cleared up suddenly. Angelot was a worthy son of his father. "It is quite unnecessary, my dear friend," he said to Monsieur Joseph, "for you to attempt to alarm us about our breakfast. Your cook can work miracles. This is not the first time, remember, that I have taken you by surprise." "And you are always welcome, my dear Baron," Monsieur Joseph answered gently, but a little dreamily. "I shall now have a fresh attraction in this country," the Prefect said. "With your cousin, De Sainfoy, at Lancilly, your neighbourhood will indeed leave nothing to be desired." "Hervé is an agreeable man," said Monsieur Joseph. "I have not seen him for many years; I do not know his wife and family. My brother is charmed to welcome them all." "Of course, and they must feel that they owe everything to him. Monsieur your brother is a benefactor to his country and species," said the Prefect, with a smile at Angelot. "Madame de Sainfoy is an exceedingly pretty woman. She made quite a sensation at Court in the spring, and I should think there will not be much difficulty in her getting the appointment I understand she wishes--lady in waiting to the Empress. Only they say that the Emperor does not quite trust De Sainfoy--finds him a little half-hearted." "That is possible," said Monsieur Joseph, gently. "Well, it is a pity," said the Prefect. "If you accept the new régime at all, you should do it loyally." "My cousin has a son fighting in Spain. That ought to be placed to his credit."