'Come, sir,' he said with impatience.
'I have told you that you may speak out.

You should have been here four days ago, as I take it.

Now you are here, where is the lady ?' 'Mademoiselle de la Vire ?' I stammered, rather to gain time than with any other object.
'Tut, tut!' he rejoined, frowning.

'Is there any other lady in the question?
Come, sir, speak out.

Where have you left her?
This is no affair of gallantry,' he continued, the harshness of his demeanour disagreeably surprising me, 'that you need beat about the bush.