Rochefoucauld stopped and laid his hand on Tignonville's sleeve.
"Thanks, dear lad," he said, "but I am going to the Princess Dowager's.
Afterwards to his Highness's. I may be detained an hour or more. You
will not like to wait so long."
M. de Tignonville's face fell ludicrously. "Well, no," he said. "I--I
don't think I could wait so long--to-night."
"Then come to-morrow night," Rochefoucauld answered, with good nature.
"With pleasure," the other cried heartily, his relief evident.
"Certainly. With pleasure." And, nodding good night, they parted.
While Rochefoucauld, with Nancay at his side and his gentlemen attending
him, passed along the echoing and now empty gallery, the younger man
bounded down the stairs to the great hall of the Caryatides, his face
radiant. He for one was not sleepy.