It was a case of waiting.

But a minute or two later the company noticed in their midst a tall gentleman with a fine face and a beautiful white beard.

The most astonishing thing about it was that nobody had seen him come in; indeed, he must have slipped into the little drawing room through the bedroom door, which had remained ajar.

Silence reigned, broken only by a sound of whispering.

The Count de Vandeuvres certainly knew who the gentleman was, for they both exchanged a discreet handgrip, but to the questions which the women asked him he replied by a smile only.