"Her horse Sultan."
He whispered the words with solemn reverence. I must confess to being
tired of the horse Sultan and disinclined to treat his loss seriously.
"Monsieur Saupiquet," said I, "doubtless offered her every consolation."
"He used to travel with her and look after Sultan's well-being. He was
her----"
"Her Master of the Horse," I suggested.
"Precisely. You have the power of using the right word, Monsieur de Gex.
It is a great gift. My good friend Saupiquet is attached to a circus at
present stationed in Toulon. He came over, at my request, to see me--on
affairs of the deepest importance"--he waved the bundle of papers--"the
very deepest importance. _Nicht wahr_, Saupiquet?"
"_Bien sur_," murmured Saupiquet, who evidently did not count loquacity
among his vices.
I wondered whether these important affairs concerned the whereabouts of
Captain Vauvenarde; but the dwarf's air of mystery forbade my asking for
his confidence. Besides, what should a groom in a circus know of retired
Captains of Chasseurs? I said:
"You're a very busy man, Monsieur le Professeur.
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