The door opened and Gustav came in with a man following him. At a glance the Marquis saw that he was obviously English and middle-aged, who was not exactly what he would call a gentleman, but of middle-class appearance.
The visitor reached the bedside and bowed.
“I understand Monsieur le Marquis,” he began, “that you speak English. I speak a little French, but it would be much easier for me to converse with you in my own language.”
The Marquis held out his uninjured hand.
“I understand you have come from England, and as I spoke your language as a boy, I am delighted to speak it again.”
“That makes matters very much easier,” the newcomer said. “My name, monsieur, is Theodore Waterson and I am a Solicitor for the late Colonel Hubert Dawlish who I understand, was your friend.”
“We were
