"How lucky! I have never met the princess, and they say she's such a splendid woman," said Madame Girard. "_Ma foi!_ I am as pleased as you are," said M. de Brévannes, "to see at last this mysterious beauty. The other day, at the Opera-ball, they were talking of nothing else but this princess, and the strange conduct of her invisible husband." "At least he will not be invisible this evening," said M. Girard. "What do you mean?" inquired his wife. "Why, simply, my dearest love, that the servant asked if he could not have an arm-chair for his eminence, who is, they say, terribly out of health, and comes out to-night for the first time after a very tedious illness." "What an idea to come to a theatre!" said Madame Girard. "An invalid's whim, doubtless," replied Brévannes. "The box-keeper replied to the servant that he must ask the controller," replied M. Girard; "whereupon the man went downstairs, and I came as quickly as I could, to tell you, my dear love, my little budget of news." "Well, it is fortunate," said De Brévannes; "we shall now see this singular, strange, and fantastic couple." "Who is this princess, then, Charles?" asked Bertha of De Brévannes. "Why, they say, a very lovely and striking woman, quite the fashion this winter, and in whose presence all our dandies have displayed their gallantries in vain. As to the prince, one is lost in the most extraordinary and contradictory suppositions with respect to him; but----" "Oh, heavens!" exclaimed Madame Girard, interrupting M. de Brévannes, "there, I declare, is the Marquise de Luceval in her box, and she has not got on her _sobieska_!" We will conduct the reader to the Marquise de Luceval's box, where they will, perchance, learn why she did not wear her _sobieska_. CHAPTER XV DRESS CIRCLE.--BOX NO. 29 Truth to say, the Marquise de Luceval had not her _sobieska_. She was dressed with equal taste and simplicity. The only innovation which she had allowed herself consisted in a very high tortoiseshell comb, _à l'Espagnole_, which confined a half-veil of black blonde to her splendid chestnut tresses. The marquise was in mourning. This _coiffure_, worn by the women of Andalusia, was charming, and gave additional attraction to the piquant physiognomy of Madame de Luceval. She was accompanied by her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, M. and Madame de Beaulieu. "Alfred! look, I have won my wager," exclaimed the marquise gaily; and, addressing her brother, "Madame Girard has on my _sobieska_. My dear Alix, your _lorgnette_, I beg of you," she said to her sister-in-law. "What wager, then, had you with Alfred?" inquired Madame de Beaulieu; "and who is Madame Girard?" "Alix, I beg of you not to laugh too loud, and look exactly at the box in front of us--a female in a high bright orange-coloured gown."