"I entreat your lordship's pardon, but your fire is out,--the cold is intense,--indeed, I must remind your lordship that after your late--your--" "Will you be silent? Leave me I say!" "Pray do not be angry, my lord," replied the trembling valet; "but, if your lordship pleases to recollect, you appointed M. Doublet to be here to-day at half past ten, and he is now waiting with the notary." "Quite proper," said the marquis, with a bitter smile; "when a man is rich he ought, he should look carefully to his affairs. Fortune is a fine thing,--a very fine thing; or would be if it could but purchase happiness." Then, resuming a cold and collected manner, he added: "Show M. Doublet into my study." "I have done so, my lord marquis." "Then give me my clothes,--quick, I am in haste; I shall be going out shortly. I--" "But if your lordship would only--" "Do as I desire you, Joseph," said M. d'Harville, in a more gentle tone; then added, "Is your lady stirring yet?" "I have not yet heard her ladyship's bell, my lord marquis." "Let me know when she rings." "I will, my lord." "Heaven and earth, man, how slow you are!" exclaimed M. d'Harville, whose raging thoughts almost chafed him into madness; "summon Philip to assist you; you will keep me all day." "My lord, please to allow me to set matters a little straight first," replied Joseph, sorrowfully; "I would much rather no one but myself witnessed the state of your chamber, or they would wonder, and talk about it, because they could not understand what had taken place during the night, my lord." "And if they were to find out, it would be a most shocking affair,--would it not?" asked M. d'Harville, in a tone of gloomy irony. "Thank God, my lord, not a soul in the house has the least suspicion of it!" "No one suspects it," repeated M. d'Harville, despondingly; "no one,--that's well, for her at least; well, let us hope to keep the secret." And, while Joseph was occupying himself in repairing the havoc in his master's apartment, D'Harville walked up to the stage of arms we before mentioned, examined them with an expression of deep interest, then, turning towards Joseph, with a sinister smile, said: "I hope you have not omitted to clean the guns which are placed at the top of the stand,--I mean those in my hunting-case." "I had not your lordship's orders to do so," replied the astonished servant. "You had, sir, and have neglected them!" "I humbly assure you, my lord--" "They must be in a fine state!" "Your lordship will please to bear in mind that it is scarcely a month since they were regularly repaired and put in order for use by the gunsmith." "Never mind! As soon as I am dressed reach down my shooting-case; I will examine the guns myself. I may very possibly go out shooting either to-morrow or next day." "I will reach them down directly, my lord." The chamber being by this time replaced in its ordinary state, a second _valet de chambre_ was summoned to assist Joseph.