“That is what the Comte de Pontlevoy has promised us,” Alice said impulsively. “But Lencia did not believe that he was telling the truth.”
“Pontlevoy!” the Duc exclaimed. “How do you know that man?”
“We do not know him,” Lencia said quickly. “He quite blatantly picked us up on the ferry because he saw our names on the labels of our hand luggage.”
“It is the sort of thing he would do,” the Duc answered. “I advise you, madame, to have nothing to do with him.”
“You are telling me exactly what I thought instinctively,” Lencia said, “but my sister in her innocence proclaimed that she was very interested in Chaumont and he promised to show her all the treasures that the ordinary visitor is not permitted to see.”
“Which is not in his power to do,” the Duc said loftily. “Unfortunately he does
