"Oh, parbleu! if it requires constrained attention in order to comprehend it, that is really a labour." "And, you know, one does not come to the theatre to have oneself bored to find out all the developments of a plot." "If it be intricate, that is the author's affair, and I really cannot for his pleasure and gratification refrain from a little quiet chat with a neighbour." "True; the triumph of art is to make oneself understood without being listened to." "Devil take you, Morville, you are quite fanatic about Gercourt." CHAPTER XVII BETWEEN THE ACTS.--BOX NUMBER VII This box, as we have said already, was occupied by M. de Brévannes and his wife. He had recognised Paula Monti in the Princess de Hansfeld. Fortunately Bertha's attention was occupied, else the marked alteration in her husband's features could not have escaped her. In spite of the iron temper of his disposition, M. de Brévannes was, in spite of himself, much agitated, and compelled to lean against the side of the box for support, as he felt the mad passion with which Paula Monti had inspired him again awaken in his bosom with increased violence. He saw once again this woman more lovely than ever, admired by all the men, envied by all the women, and in a most elevated social position. And she could now exact from him a terrible account of the blood which he had shed, of the infamous means which he had employed to give a colourable appearance to his cowardly calumnies. Fearing the pursuit of justice, which might be directed against him after his duel with Raphael (in which the latter fell), De Brévannes had quitted Florence precipitately. Since then he had sought to amuse himself by guilty intrigues, in order to forget his unworthy conduct and invincible passion, which, in spite of himself, still held such dominion over him. His ill humour, his coarseness, his severity towards Bertha, had no other source than his feeling of the past which he could not drive from his memory. What would then become of him when he found himself face to face with Madame de Hansfeld, and should be recognised by her, for the looks of the princess, at first attracted by the _sobieska_ of Madame Girard, were thence removed to M. de Brévannes at the very instant when, having discovered in her Paula Monti, he was looking at her with amazement. He saw her shudder, lift her hands suddenly to her eyes, and then become again perfectly impassive. * * * * * Bertha had been deeply interested, going rarely to the theatre, she preserved all her feelings youthful and fresh. Entirely absorbed in the plot of the comedy, nay indifferent to what was going on in the various boxes and stalls, the commencement of the second act of _The Seducer_ completely fascinated her attention. The second act was, perhaps, even more successful than the first. De Gercourt's friends began to get impatient at this lucky chance, and one of the most intimate said:--