He was always a silent and unsociable fellow, and the others will not wonder at his having started without mentioning his intention to any of them." "What are we to say to the ladies, sir ?" Jack asked.

"We must invent some reason for our mysterious absence." "Yes," the count agreed.

"I would not burden them with such a secret as this on any account." "I have an idea, sir," Jack said after a pause.

"You know that beautiful pair of ponies which were brought here yesterday for sale?
The ladies were in raptures over them, but you said that the price was preposterous, and that the owner wanted as much for them as you had given for your best pair of carriage horses.

Now, sir, if you were to order Alexis to go over at daybreak to the town to purchase them, and have them at the door in a pony-carriage by breakfast-time, this would seem to explain the whole mystery of the coachman's coming to see you, and our private conference." "It is a capital plan," the count assented; "admirable, and I will carry it out at once.