Otherwise he was in the extreme of last year's fashion. His
deep cravat, folded over so that the laced ends drooped a little
in front, was of the finest; his great sash of blue and silver
was a foot wide. He had a little jewel in one ear, and his tiny
beard was peaked A L'ESPAGNOLE. Probably when he turned he
expected to see the sergeant, for at the sight of me he rose
slowly, leaving the dice still covered.
'What folly is this?' he cried, wrathfully. Here, sergeant!
Sergeant!--without there! What the--! Who are you, sir?'
'Captain Larolle,' I said uncovering politely, 'I believe?'
'Yes, I am Captain Larolle,' he retorted. 'But who, in the
fiend's name, are you?' You are not the man we are after!'
'I am not M. Cocheforet,' I said coolly. 'I am merely a guest in
the house, M. le Capitaine. I have been enjoying Madame de
Cocheforet's hospitality for some time, but by an evil chance I
was away when you arrived.' And with that I walked to the
hearth, and, gently pushing aside his great boots which stood
there drying, I kicked the logs into a blaze.
'MILLE DIABLES!' he whispered.
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