"Welcome, Monsieur de Canolles," said the duke, with a most benevolent expression; "your sister and I have done naught but talk of you since last evening, and since last evening we have been most desirous of seeing you." "Ah! you wished to see me? indeed!" said Cauvignac, turning to Nanon, with a look in which there was an indescribable expression of irony and suspicion. "Yes," said Nanon; "Monsieur le Duc has been kind enough to express a wish that you should be presented to him." "Naught save the fear of intruding upon you, monseigneur," said Cauvignac, bowing to the duke, "has prevented me from seeking that honor before this." "On my word, baron," said the duke, "I admire your delicacy, but I feel bound to reproach you for it." "Reproach me for my delicacy, monseigneur? Oho!" "Yes; for if your good sister had not looked out for your interests--" "Ah!" exclaimed Cauvignac, with an eloquent, reproachful glance at Nanon; "ah! my good sister has looked out for the interests of Monsieur--" "Her brother," interposed Nanon, hastily; "what could be more natural?" "And then to-day; to what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you?" "True," said Cauvignac; "to what do you owe the pleasure of seeing me, monseigneur?" "Why, to chance, to mere chance, which led you to return." "Aha!" said Cauvignac to himself; "it seems that I had gone away." "Yes, you went away, you bad brother; and without letting me know, except by a word or two, which had no other effect than to increase my anxiety." "What would you have, dear Nanon? we must make allowances for a man in love," said the duke, with a smile. "Oho! this is becoming complicated," said Cauvignac; "it seems now that I am in love." "Come, come," said Nanon, "confess that you are." "I won't deny it," rejoined Cauvignac, with a meaning smile, seeking to glean from some eye some hint of the truth, to guide him in constructing a lusty lie. "Very good," said the duke; "but let us breakfast, if you've no objection. You can tell us of your love-affairs as we sit at the table, baron.--Francinette, a cover for Monsieur de Canolles. You haven't breakfasted, captain, I trust?" "No, monseigneur; and I confess that the fresh morning air has sharpened my appetite prodigiously." "Say the night air, you rascal," said the duke; "for you have been on the road all night." "'Faith!" muttered Cauvignac, "the brother-in-law guessed aright there. Very good! I admit it; the night air--" "In that case," the duke continued, giving his arm to Nanon, and leading the way to the dining-room, followed by Cauvignac, "I trust that you will find here the wherewithal to defeat your appetite, however strongly constituted it may be." It was the fact that Master Biscarros had outdone himself; the dishes were not numerous, but delicious and exquisitely served. The yellow wine of Guyenne, and the red Burgundy fell from the bottles like golden pearls and cascades of rubies. Cauvignac ate very heartily.