"After all, what is the use of asking that question? The duke has just arrived, consequently it must be exactly half after nine." The clock on the mantel interrupted the countess by striking the half-hour designated, and the lady laughed heartily as she exclaimed: "What did I tell you, Katinka? M. de Riancourt is as punctual as the clock itself." "That only proves his ardour and his love." "I should prefer a less well-regulated emotion, I think. Persons who adore you at a stated time always seem to me to have a watch in place of a heart. Hand me a smelling-bottle,--no, not that one. Yes, this one will do. I am almost sorry that I am dressed, so I cannot keep the poor duke waiting longer to punish him for his tiresome punctuality." "Why, madame, how unjust you are to him! Why do you marry him if you feel this way toward him?" "Why do I marry M. de Riancourt?" the countess replied, as she took one more look in the mirror. "You have more curiosity than I have, Katinka. Does any woman ever know why she marries a second time?" "The reason seems apparent to every one. The duke, though he has no gold mines in the Crimea, and no silver mines in the Ural Mountains--" "Spare me this tiresome enumeration of my worldly possessions, Katinka." "Well, madame, though M. le duc cannot boast of such immense possessions as you have, he is one of the wealthiest and most powerful noblemen in France. He is young and good-looking; he has not led a life of dissipation like so many other young men; on the contrary, he is very devout, and--" "Oh, yes, he is a paragon of virtue, of course. Bring me a heavy wrap; the nights are still cool." "Has madame any orders to give for the twentieth?" "Orders?" "Is it possible that madame forgets her marriage is to take place one week from to-morrow?" "What! as soon as that?" "Certainly, madame. You decided on the twentieth of May, and this is the twelfth." "If I said the twentieth, it will have to be the twentieth. But how strange it is. One is leading a delightful life; one is young and free, and one hates restraint, and yet one cannot give oneself another master too soon." "A master? A man as kind and gentle as M. le duc? Why, you can make whatever you please of him, madame!" "I shall never make a charming man of him, and yet I shall marry him. Ah, aunt, aunt, you are responsible for all this. There is one good thing about it, though. One will at least escape the bother of having to ask oneself what one had better do." The countess proceeded in a leisurely fashion to the drawing-room, where she found her aunt and the Duc de Riancourt awaiting her.