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A supper…table was laid for two； in the third of the rooms； a round room； in one of the chaateau's four extinguisher…topped towers。 A small lofty room； with its window wide open； and the wooden jalousie…blinds closed； so that the dark night only showed in slight horizontal lines of black； alternating with their broad lines of stone colour。
‘My nephew；' said the Marquis； glancing at the supper preparation； ‘they said he was not arrived。'
Nor was he； but； he had been expected with Monseigneur。
‘Ah！ It is not probable he will arrive to…night； nevertheless；
leave the table as it is。 I shall be ready in a quarter of an hour。' In a quarter of an hour Monseigneur was ready； and sat down alone to his sumptuous and choice supper。 His chair was opposite to the window； and he had taken his soup； and was raising his glass of Bordeaux to his lips； when he put it down。
‘What is that？' he calmly asked； looking with attention at the horizontal lines of black and stone colour'。
‘Monseigneur？ That？'
‘Outside the blinds。 Open the blinds。'
It was done。
‘well？'
‘Monseigneur； it is nothing。 The trees and the night are all that are here。'
The servant who spoke； had thrown the blinds wide； had looked out into the vacant darkness； and stood； with that blank behind him； looking round for instructions。
‘Good；' said the imperturbable master。 ‘Close them again。' That was done too； and the Marquis went on with his supper。 He was halfway through it； when he again stopped with his glass in his hand； hearing the sound of wheels。 It came on briskly； and came up to the front of the chaateau。
‘Ask who is arrived。'
It was the nephew of Monseigneur。 He had been some few leagues behind Monseigneur； early in the afternoon。 He had diminished the distance rapidly； but not so rapidly as to e up with Monseigneur on the road。 He had heard of Monseigneur； at the posting…houses； as being before him。
He was to be told （said Monseigneur） that supper awaited him then and there； and that he was prayed to e to it。 In a little while he came。 He had been known in England as Charles Darnay。
Monseigneur received him in a courtly manner； but they did not shake hands。
‘You left Paris yesterday； sir？' he said to Monseigneur； as he took his seat at table。
‘Yesterday。 And you？'
‘I e direct。
‘From London？'
‘Yes。'
‘You have been a long time ing；' said the Marquis； with a smile。
‘On the contrary； I e direct。'
‘Pardon me！ I mean； not a long time on the journey； a long time intending the Journey。
‘I have been detained by'……the nephew stopped a moment in his answer……various business。'
‘Without doubt；' said the polished uncle。
So long as a servant was present； no other words passed between them。 When coffee had been served and they were alone together； the nephew； looking at the uncle and meeting the eyes of the face that was like a fine mask； opened a conversation。
‘I have e back； sir； as you anticipate； pursuing the object that took me away。 It carried me into great and unexpected peril； but it is a sacred object； and if it had carried me to death I hope it would have sustained me。'
‘Not to death；' said the uncle； ‘it is not necessary to say； to death。'
‘I doubt； sir；' returned the nephew； ‘whether； if it had carried me to the utmost brink of death； you would have cared to stop me there。'
The deepened marks in the nose； and the lengthening of the fine straight lines in the cruel face； looked ominous as to that； the uncle made a graceful gesture of protest； which was so clearly a slight form of good breeding that it was not reassuring。
‘Indeed； sir；' pursued the nephew； ‘for anything I know； you may have expressly worked to give a more suspicious appearance to the suspicious circumstances that surrounded me。
‘No； no； no；' said the uncle； pleasantly。
‘But； however that may be；' resumed the nephew； glancing at him with deep distrust； ‘I know that your diplomacy would stop me by any means； and would know no scruple as to means。
‘My friend； I told you so；' said the uncle； with a fine pulsation in the two marks。 ‘Do me the favour to recall that I told you so； long ago。'
‘I recall it。'
‘Thank you；' said the Marquis……very sweetly indeed。
His tone lingered in the air； almost like the tone of a musical instrument。
‘In effect； sir；' pursued the nephew； ‘I believe it to be at once your bad fortune； and my good fortune； that has kept me out of a prison in France here。'
‘I do not quite understand；' returned the uncle； sipping his coffee。 ‘Dare I ask you to explain？'
‘I believe that if you were not in disgrace with the Court； and had not been overshadowed by that cloud for years past； a letter de cachet would have sent me to some fortress indefinitely。'
‘It is possible；' said the uncle； with great calmness。 ‘For the honour of the family； I could even resolve to inmode you to that extent。 Pray excuse me！'
‘I perceive that； happily for me； the Reception of the day before yesterday was； as usual； a cold one；' observed the nephew。
‘I would not say happily； my friend；' returned the uncle； with refined politeness； ‘I would not be sure of that。 A good opportunity for consideration； surrounded by the advantages of solitude； might influence your destiny to far greater advantage than you influence it for yourself。 But it is useless to discuss the question。 I am； as you say； at a disadvantage。 These little instruments of correction； these gentle aids to the power and honour of families； these slight favours that might so inmode you； are only to be obtained now by interest and importunity。 They are sought by so many； and they are granted （paratively） to so few！ It used not to be so； but France in all such things is changed for the worse。 Our not remote ancestors held the right of life and death over the surrounding vulgar。 From this room； many such dogs have been taken out to be hanged； in the next room （my bedroom）； one fellow； to our knowledge； was poniarded on the spot for professing some insolent delicacy respecting his daughter……his daughter？ We have lost many privileges； a new philosophy has bee the mode； and the assertion of our station； in these days； might （I do not go so far as to say would； but might） cause us real inconvenience。 All very bad； very bad！'
The Ma