After a drive of several hours, we returned to the hotel. We noticed much commotion among the people of the house, and a servant informed us that new guests had arrived: two English lords and their ladies, and a gentleman from Paris, who alone made as much fuss as four people. Caroline went at once to change her dress, in order to outshine the Englishwomen, and perhaps also to turn the heads of the Englishmen and the Parisian. I returned to my room and reflected upon what Mademoiselle Derbin had told me of her conversation with Madame Blémont. What did my intimacy with Caroline or with any woman matter to Eugénie? Was I not at liberty to dispose of my heart as I chose? But women have so much self-esteem that even when they no longer love you they are vexed to see that you follow their example. Men are much the same too. I went without apprehension to the evening reception, being fully persuaded that Madame Blémont would not be tempted to appear. There were many people in the salon. The English party was already there; the two young women were young and pretty and their travelling companions--I did not know whether they were their husbands--paid no attention to them, but were already deep in politics with the Spaniard and some Frenchmen. Several young men were already playing the gallant with the young women. I joined Mademoiselle Derbin, who was almost deserted for the new arrivals, although they were not to be compared with her. I sat down beside her; I was pleased to see that she was not annoyed at the desertion of her little court. “So you don’t do like the rest?” she said with a smile; “you don’t go to offer incense to the strangers?” “I have no inclination to do so; why should one change when one is well off?” “That often happens, however.” “Alas, yes! but apparently it may be that one is well off and does not realize it.” “I trust that I shall never have the experience.” I do not know how it happened that at that moment Caroline’s hand was under mine. She did not take it away, and we sat thus for a long while, paying no heed to what was taking place in the salon. But the touch of that hand reminded me of Eugénie and of the time when I was paying court to her. Doubtless Caroline had no suspicion that the pressure of her hand made me think of another woman, and that it was that which made me pensive. But we very often deceive ourselves with respect to the sensations which we arouse. And the thing which flatters our self-esteem would sometimes cause us naught but vexation if we knew its real cause. Suddenly the door of the salon was noisily opened and someone entered, talking very loud and making a great uproar. I turned, for whenever anyone entered the salon, I felt a thrill of uneasiness. “This is the gentleman from Paris, no doubt,” said Caroline. I looked at the newcomer, who was just saluting the company; it was Bélan!