Emma thought she recognized the Viscount, turned back, and caught on the horizon only the movement of the heads rising or falling with the unequal cadence of the trot or gallop.
A mile farther on they had to stop to mend with some string the traces that had broken.
But Charles, giving a last look to the harness, saw something on the ground between his horse's legs, and he picked up a cigar-case with a green silk border and beblazoned in the centre like the door of a carriage.
"There are even two cigars in it," said he; "they'll do for this evening after dinner." "Why, do you smoke ?" she asked.
"Sometimes, when I get a chance." He put his find in his pocket and whipped up the nag.
When they reached home the dinner was not ready.

Madame lost her temper.
Nastasie answered rudely.
"Leave the room!" said Emma.

"You are forgetting yourself.

I give you warning." For dinner there was onion soup and a piece of veal with sorrel.
Charles, seated opposite Emma, rubbed his hands gleefully.
"How good it is to be at home again!" Nastasie could be heard crying.

He was rather fond of the poor girl.
She had formerly, during the wearisome time of his widowhood, kept him company many an evening.