"You are mistaken," said the domino; "those who have heard speak of Madame de Hansfeld, and they are few, say that she is as clever as she is handsome." "It is true," added Fierval; "all that can be said against her is her prudery, which displays itself at the most harmless pleasantries." "The princess must be on her guard," said the domino; "if her affectation of prudery lasts some time longer, she will find herself as entirely forsaken by the men as she will be sought by the women, who at this present time dread her very much, not knowing if her formality of manner is real or affected." "But," said M. de Brévannes, "what can make you suppose the princess guilty of hypocrisy?" "Nothing: for she is very pious," said M. de Fierval. "Say _dévote_," said the domino, "which is, by no means, the same thing." "When," said another, "one loves the church so passionately, one loves parties less, and one bestows less care on one's toilette." "That is very unjust!" said M. de Fierval, with a smile. "The princess dresses always alike, and with the utmost simplicity. In the evening she wears a gown of black velvet, or dark, garnet-coloured silk, with her hair braided." "Yes, but those gowns are admirably made! displaying faultless shoulders, arms exquisitely turned, the figure of a Creole, a foot like Cinderella,--and then such splendid jewels!" "Another injustice!" exclaimed M. de Fierval; "she only wears a plain black or ruby velvet riband round her neck, matching the colour of her gown." "Yes," added the domino, "and this poor little riband is fastened by a modest clasp, consisting of a single stone. But then that stone is a diamond, a ruby, or a sapphire, worth 1000 _l._ or 1500 _l._ The princess has, amongst other marvels, an emerald as large as a nut." "That is still only the clasp to the velvet riband," said M. de Fierval, gaily. "But the prince--the prince disquiets me!" continued M. de Brévannes. "Seriously, now, is he as mysterious as they say?" "Seriously," answered M. de Fierval; "after having lived for some time in the Rue Saint-Guillaume, he has betaken himself to live on the Quai d'Anjou, at the Diable Vert, in the old and vast Hôtel Lambert. A lady of my acquaintance, Madame de Lormoy, went there to pay the princess a visit, but she did not see the prince, who, she was told, was indisposed. It appears that nothing can be more dull than this enormous palace, where one is lost, as it were, and where one hears no more noise than in the midst of a wide plain, so deserted are these streets and quays." "Since you know persons who have penetrated this mysterious habitation, my dear Fierval," said another lounger, "is it true that the princess has always at her side a sort of dwarf male or female negro or negress, who is deformed?" "What an exaggeration!" said M. de Fierval, laughing; "and _this is just the way history is written!_" "Does the dwarf, male or female, exist or not?"