"Good evening, Fierval! whither so fast? you appear in great haste. Are you seeking the lovely Princess de Hansfeld, to whom you pay such constant attention? You will lose your time, I can assure you. She is not the woman to come to an Opera-ball--her virtue is of the old-fashioned sort; and you will all but singe your wings in the flame, like delicate butterflies." M. de Fierval paused, and replied, with a smile,-- "Lovely mask, I will own that I do greatly admire the Princess de Hansfeld; but I am too humble an individual to have the slightest pretension to be noticed by her." "Ah, indeed, what a formal and respectful tone! why one would say that you were in hopes that the princess would hear you!" "I never speak of Madame de Hansfeld but with that respect with which she inspires all the world!" was M. de Fierval's reply. "Perhaps you think I am the princess?" "To make that possible, charming mask, you require her figure, which you certainly have not yet attained." "Madame de Hansfeld at an Opera-ball!" said one of the loungers of the group that surrounded the domino; "that would, indeed, be something singular!" "Why so?" inquired the domino. "She lives too far off--at the Hôtel Lambert, fronting the Ile Louviers--almost as far off as London." "That jest on the forsaken quarters is worn threadbare," replied the domino. "The truth is, that Madame de Hansfeld is too great a prude to be guilty of such a folly; she whom one sees every day at church--" "But the Opera-ball was only invented in order that once a-year, at least, it should conceal the folly of prudes," said a new comer who had mingled with the circle unnoticed. This personage was accosted with loud exclamations of surprise. "What you, Brévannes! why, where did you spring from?" "Oh, no doubt, just arrived from Lorraine." "Here you are again, eh, you sad fellow?" "His first visit is to the Opera! but that is quite _de règle_." "He comes to see his ancient rollicking acquaintances." "Or to learn news of them." "He has been out to grass on his country estates." "And no doubt has greatly profited by the 'run!'" "They will not know him again in the green-room." "I'll bet a wager that he has left his wife in the country, in order that he may more easily lead a bachelor's life here." "This is the usual termination to your love-matches." "Brévannes, we have made all arrangements for a little supper this evening." "You'll come, of course! for then we can tell you all that has been, and has not been, done in Paris during your exile." M. de Brévannes was a man about five-and-thirty, of dark complexion, almost olive-coloured; his features, which were regular, had a singular expression of energy: his hair, his eyebrows, and his beard, were of jet-black, and gave his face an air of sternness; his manners were easy and gentlemanly; and he was dressed simply, but in the best possible taste.