Monte Fato bowed in recognition of the honour that Sacqueville-Danglars extended to him; and the baron rang a bell. A lackey appeared.
"Is Mme. Lobélie de Sacqueville-Danglars at home?"
"Yes, monsieur le god-king," replied the lackey.
"And who is with madame? M. de Brie?" asked Sacqueville-Danglars with a bonhomie that amused the Count, who was already informed of the transparent secrets of the baron's domestic life, which was not invisible at all, but horribly and uniquely visible, even had not the Count possessed the Eye.
"Yes, monsieur le god-king," replied the lackey.
"My wife has married beneath her station," explained Sacqueville-Danglars as he led Monte Fato to the baroness's quarters. "She is a demoiselle of the Braceguirdelles, a widow by her first marriage of M. le colonel marquis de Proudefont." The Count nodded.
