“Well, my dear cousin, I was recalled to the garrison.

“And where is that, if you please? and why did not you come to say farewell?”

“At Queue-en-Brie.”

Phoebus was delighted with the first question, which helped him to avoid the second.

“But that is quite close by, monsieur. Why did you not come to see me a single time?”

Here Phoebus was rather seriously embarrassed.

“Because — the service — and then, charming cousin, I have been ill.”

“Ill!” she repeated in alarm.

“Yes, wounded!”