Bertha uttered these words with such an expression of pleasure and joy--the look she exchanged at the moment with Arnold (a look rapidly intercepted by Paula) betrayed a passion so profound, so ineffable, so radiant, that all the snakes of envy and rage gnawed at Madame de Hansfeld's heartstrings. Paula herself loved with passion, with intoxication, but her love could never be prosperous. The sight of a happiness which was forbidden her redoubled her anger. She recalled the almost contemptuous malevolence with which De Brévannes, De Hansfeld, and Bertha, had spoken of De Morville, and she included them all three in the same sentiment of hate. At this moment of intense exasperation, the more violent as it was repressed, she accepted the offer of De Brévannes, and said to Bertha, in a voice whose emotion she perfectly controlled,-- "Well, madame, at the risk of being really troublesome, by complying with your friendly pressing, I accept." "How kind of you, madame!" was Bertha's reply. "And when shall we set out, M. de Brévannes?" asked the prince, unable to conceal his joy. "I shall make quite a fête of my sporting." "I am at Madame de Hansfeld's order," observed De Brévannes; "only I would remark, that the rest of birds of passage is usually very brief, and we ought to reach my house as soon as possible." "What say you, madame?" inquired De Hansfeld of his wife. "To-morrow, if that would suit Madame de Brévannes." "Quite," said De Brévannes. "I and my wife will set out this evening, and precede you a few hours, so that we may have the pleasure of awaiting you there." At this moment Iris arose. This movement reminded Madame de Hansfeld of all the terrible reality of her position. A cloud passed before her eyes. Her breath was for an instant stopped by the violent throbbings of her heart, and she shuddered as if an ice-cold hand was passing through her hair. The fatal moment had arrived. She was now to take the first step in the path of crime. If she allowed Iris to leave the room without giving her the pin, the girl was to disclose all to M. de Brévannes, and Paula must renounce every hope, so near and probable, of marrying De Morville, by profiting from the double murder of which she would be completely innocent in the eyes of the world. Iris, with a little noise, arranged some things on the table in order to warn her mistress. Paula still hesitated. Iris made a step towards the door. A terrible struggle ensued in Madame de Hansfeld's mind between her good and bad angel. Iris advanced towards the door, and placed her hand on the lock. The handle made a noise in turning. Paula's bad angel had the ascendancy in the struggle. Madame de Hansfeld said, in a tone scarcely audible, so low, so very low, "Iris!" that it was necessary for all the Bohemian's attention to the same in order to catch the word. Iris in two steps approached her mistress. "Here, go, I beg, and put away this pin," said Paula, in a faint voice.