noon
At his desk sat his secretary , who had been a witness of the interview , lost in wonder almost as great as the Seneschal 's own . For an hour Tressan remained where he was , deep in thought and gnawing at his beard . Then with a sudden burst of passion , expressed in a round oath or two , he rose , and called for his horse that he might ride to Condillac . Promptly at noon on the morrow Monsieur de Garnache presented himself once more at the Seneschal 's palace , and with him went Rabecque , his body-servant , a lean , swarthy , sharp-faced man , a trifle younger than his master . Anselme , the obese master of the household , received them with profound respect , and at once conducted Garnache to Monsieur de Tressan 's presence . On the stairs they met Captain d'Aubran , who was descending . The captain was not in the best of humours .