"Well, the truth to say, I am not quite pleased with him for giving up his attempts to please me so suddenly. His attention really amused me. A'n't I candid, my dear?" "Oh! you incurable coquette! never to forgive the man whom even she rejects. What! must the poor victim remain and suffer?" "Alas! M. de Gercourt will have his revenge this evening. I have not ordered my carriage until eleven o'clock." This charitable conversation was interrupted by M. de Beaulieu and M. de Fierval. "My dear Emilie," said M. de Beaulieu to his sister, "I bring you living information as to the lovely creature beside the _sobieska_." "Do you know that charming creature, M. de Fierval?" inquired Madame de Luceval. "I do not know her, madame; but I know her husband, M. de Brévannes." "Brévannes?--Is he not the son of a man of business." "Something of the kind; the father was a contractor--a dealer." "And that young lady?" "A poor girl without fortune; she lived by teaching the piano." "Yet it is impossible to have a more _distingué_ air," said Madame de Luceval. "She is so delightfully dressed!--It was then a love-match?" "Decidedly; but they say Brévannes is very unfaithful." "What! that fat man in spectacles?" "No, my dear, that must be, I should say, the sobieski of the _sobieska_," said De Beaulieu to his sister. "M. de Brévannes," added Fierval, "is a dark man, with a very expressive countenance. Madame de Girard's casquette hides him. Now----." "What an unprepossessing physiognomy! I don't like the looks of the man." "You are wrong, I assure you. De Brévannes is what is called a very good fellow, only his temper is of iron, inflexible. What he will he will." At the noise of some chairs which were being moved in the next box, Madame de Luceval put her head forward, and recognised Madame de Lormoy, aunt of M. de Morville. "Ah, madame, how fortunate to be so near you!" said Madame de Luceval. "Are you alone in your box? I shall pay you a visit." "I am expecting Madame de Hansfeld; and, strange to say, her husband accompanies her," said Madame de Lormoy. "Really?--How unlucky!--From here I cannot see this mysterious personage. Try and make him stay until it is over." "If he had seen you, my dear Emilie, there would have been no occasion to ask him; but, unfortunately----" Madame de Lormoy, hearing a noise, paused, turned her head, and said to Madame de Luceval, "Here he is!" The Prince and Princess de Hansfeld entered the box at that instant. [Illustration 09: Friends in the stalls.] CHAPTER XVI FRIENDS IN THE STALLS "What a crowd!--What a crowd!" "If I were De Gercourt, at this moment, what an awful fright I should be in!--What say you?" "I should most decidedly." "What fancy is this that has taken hold of him?" "Oh! he can do nothing like any one else." "Ah!--bah! Is his comedy really something so extraordinarily good?"