"Shameful! but so much the better; it is right that envious people should feel the pain of their hateful desires. I wish M. de Gercourt's success was twice as disagreeable to them as it is already." "Is M. de Gercourt one of your friends, madame?" inquired Madame de Hansfeld. "Is he?--indeed he is, and one of my best. When he returned from his travels before the revolution of July, he entered the world under my patronage and that of the Duchesse de Bellecourt; and I can assure you we were very proud of introducing M. de Gercourt into society. He was a charming young man; and although quite young, soon became very much the fashion:--with a large fortune, a good name, a handsome person, and most gentlemanly manners, he had only to desire to please, and he did please; and because, after he had enjoyed, as a young man, all the pleasures of his age and position, he now seeks more elevated enjoyments, more serious occupations, every body says malicious things of him. It is really a shame and a pity. Why are not fools as indulgent to the merit of another as they are for their own nonentity? It is all that is required of them." "It is well to be one of your friends, madame," said Paula, smiling at the excitement with which Madame de Lormoy had said these words. "Assuredly," said M. de Fierval; "and I regret that I think with Madame de Lormoy of Gercourt, as else I might have had the pleasure of being converted by her." "Oh! I do not pretend to convert anybody, but to say unreservedly my opinion of malicious and jealous persons. That is an old woman's privilege, and I avail myself of it, as I have a right to do. Have I not, prince?--But, heavens! what's the matter?--How pale you are!" And, indeed, M. de Hansfeld was leaning his head against the panel of the box, and seemed at the moment extremely ill. "Princess, your smelling bottle!" exclaimed Madame de Lormoy. Madame de Hansfeld rose half up from her seat. Her husband repulsed her with terror, saying in an alarmed voice, "No,--no; not that smelling bottle!" and the prince fainted. Despite her husband's habitual impassiveness, Madame de Hansfeld could not help a shudder and a frown of her black eyebrows at the frightened gesture of the prince when she presented her _flacon_ to him; but neither Madame de Lormoy nor M. de Fierval, who were occupied with the prince, observed her emotion. The indisposition of the prince occurred between the acts, and several persons came to help to convey the prince to his carriage; and amongst the inquisitives was M. Girard, whom his wife had despatched to ascertain what effect her _sobieska_ had occasioned in the public mind.