Bertha's first refusal to go to the Hôtel Lambert, her increasing emotion as she approached the place where she would see Arnold again, were convincing proofs of this love. De Brévannes was besides informed by the porter at Pierre Raimond's of the visits the engraver received; and De Hansfeld had been so accurately described to him that he only awaited the opportunity of seeing the prince to be assured of his identity with the constant visitor of Pierre Raimond. Paula, seated by the fireside, had beside her a small table, on which was laid the fatal pin; which, handed to Iris, would prevent the disclosure to De Brévannes of the trickery of which he was the dupe, and leave him in the delusion that in getting rid of his wife and the prince he might marry Paula. The Bohemian girl, occupied at some tapestry-work, was partially concealed by the window-curtains near which she was seated, but still she did not take her eyes off her mistress. And it must be added that her look sometimes exercised a kind of fascination over Paula. M. de Hansfeld, standing near the fireplace, endeavoured, but in vain, to conceal his emotion. The door opened, and a valet-de-chambre announced,--"M. and Madame de Brévannes." Our readers may, perchance, find a contrast sufficiently dramatic between the futile, slight, and "bald, disjointed chat" of the four actors in this scene, and the anxieties, the various and deep passions which agitated them. Madame de Hansfeld rose, went some steps towards Bertha, and said to her with complaisance,-- "Madame, you are most kind to have remembered that I was at home to-day." "Madame, you--are--very obliging," stammered Bertha, lowering her eyes that she might not meet those of Arnold. The poor girl was ready to sink. The princess added,-- "Will you allow me, madame, to present the Prince de Hansfeld, who has not yet had the honour of an introduction to you?" Arnold advanced, made a low bow, and said to Bertha,-- "I very much regret not having accompanied Madame de Hansfeld into society as often as I could have wished; and after her good fortune in being introduced to you, I regret it doubly, madame; yet I console myself as I am happy enough to have now an opportunity of paying my respects to you." Anxious to come to Bertha's aid, and who, more and more troubled, had not a word to reply to Arnold, Madame de Hansfeld said to him, presenting M. de Brévannes,-- "M. de Brévannes." De Brévannes bowed. The prince returned his salute, and said, with much affability,-- "I shall be always delighted, sir, to see you at Madame de Hansfeld's, and hope I shall often have that pleasure." "As often, sir, as it will be possible for me to profit by so agreeable a request without intrusion." After these indispensable preliminaries, the four persons seated themselves, Paula in her place on the right hand of the fire-place, Bertha on the left hand side, De Brévannes beside Madame de Hansfeld, and Arnold by the engraver's daughter.