"You are the person whom I have been expecting, doubtless?" said the count, closely observing the girl, whose eyes assumed a strange expression as she looked at him. Miretta, for it was she who had stopped in front of Léodgard, replied in a faltering voice, and as if under the influence of a secret terror: "You are--Comte--Léodgard de Marvejols?" "Yes, I am he; and you are sent by the lady who wrote me to be on this square?" "Yes, seigneur, yes--I come from her." "But what is the matter with you, girl? Your voice trembles--you seem to be intensely agitated. Can any misfortune have happened to your mistress? have you a sad message to transmit to me? In heaven's name, speak! This perturbation of yours is not natural." "Mon Dieu! seigneur, I do not know myself why I tremble so, why my body is suddenly bathed in cold perspiration. I have no misfortune to announce--on the contrary, my message cannot fail to be agreeable to you. But when I saw you, when I stopped in front of you, I felt a strange oppression; I do not know what took place within me; it seemed to me that I was dying." "Control yourself; you must have walked too fast--and an attack of dizziness---- But you seem to be better already?" "Yes, seigneur, yes; it is passing away." "Then you will perhaps deliver your message, and tell me----" "That if you wish to see my mistress, she can accord you a few moments this evening." "If I wish to see her! Why, is it not my most earnest desire, my dearest hope? What am I to do to obtain that favor?" "Simply come to the house; but you will say to the concierge, whom I will be careful to notify in advance, that you wish to see me. Once in the courtyard, go to the rear, and on the right you will see a narrow servants' staircase; go up to the second floor, and you will find me." "And the marchioness?" "She will be in my room; she will come there by a secret passage communicating with her apartment." "Very good. But does she not fear that the marquis will ask for her--that he may go to her apartment?" "Everything is provided for; this evening monsieur le marquis goes to a large reception; madame has feigned an indisposition as a pretext for not accompanying him. The only danger to be feared is that monsieur le marquis may return too early--but that will not deter monsieur le comte, I presume?" "Nothing can deter me when it is a matter of seeing your beautiful mistress. I ask these questions, I assure you, solely in the interest of the marchioness. For my own part, I would joyfully encounter the greatest perils to prove my love for her." "This evening, then, seigneur, at nine." "Good.--But one moment--you forget the most essential point; if I am to ask for you, it is indispensable that I should know your name, and you have not told me that." "Pardon, monsieur le comte, I thought that my mistress had told you. Well, you will say to the concierge: 'I am going to see Miretta.'"