He seized my unresponsive hand and wrung it with a false cordiality.
'My dear Louis,' said he.

'It was really the hope of meeting you here which brought me over from Grosbois--although you can understand that living so far from Paris I cannot afford to miss such an opportunity of showing myself at Court.

Nevertheless I can assure you that it was of you principally that I was thinking.

I hear that you have had a splendid reception from the Emperor, and that you have been taken into his personal service.

I had spoken to him about you, and I made him fully realise that if he treats you well he is likely to coax some of the other young emigres into his service.' I was convinced that he was lying, but none the less I had to bow and utter a few words of cold thanks.
'I see that you still bear me some grudge for what passed between us the other day,' said he, 'but really, my dear Louis, you have no occasion to do so.