The Mysterious Disappearance of the Chevalier Valmont

“I see you even know his name,” remarked the baroness.

“Not only that,” answered the viscountess, her whiskers twitching playfully.

“May I ask who had told you?”

(39)

beat about the bush lurkcornertwitchin turnfirst-handmisfortuneovertakepay sb a visit

At that very moment, the door of the drawing room opened, and the butler announced:

“Her Excellency Countess Coeur de Chevre to visit Your Excellency!”

(40)

The countess looked around the room, just the way her friend had done a few minutes ago, and her face sank. She had, obviously, expected to find the baroness in someone else’s company.

announcepetitelivelythan usualher face sank

“I’m not late, am I?” she asked.

“Don’t worry, Marietta. I haven’t had a chance yet to win over the Chevalier Valmont. We start together,” reassured her the Viscountess Fumaison. Then, turning to the hostess, she said, “Which brings us back to my first question: “Where is he?”

“The chevalier has some business in town,” answered the baroness.

(41)

“You’re forgetting, Marietta, that he is looking for his sister,” the countess interrupted. “And, please, lay off Margaret. Don’t you see she is not quite herself?”