The young Marquise de Santoval was in her dressing room, standing before a large Venetian mirror, which, in those days, filled the place of the modern psyche. She was trying the effect against her hair of a new set of rubies which her husband had brought her that morning. And as the reddish gleam of the stones harmonized perfectly with the brilliant gloss of her raven locks, Valentine could not restrain a smile of satisfaction at finding herself so lovely. "This is becoming to me, is it not, Miretta?" she asked, turning to her pretty maid, who stood behind her gazing at her with a sad expression. "Yes, madame, it is admirable; it is perfectly suited to you. I do not think that it is possible to be more lovely." "Aha! flatterer!--But it is possible to be less lovely and more attractive!" "Monsieur le marquis is very gallant; his presents are magnificent!" "He does no more than he should do! I think that he was much flattered by the preference I accorded him." "Can it be that madame regrets it now?" "Hush, Miretta, hush! there are some things that must never be said!--However, I have no regrets; I did what I was determined to do. It was not a caprice that guided my action. Nor, as you may imagine, was it love--although Monsieur de Santoval is still young, and a very handsome man. Indeed, there are some women who consider him superb. Not long ago, Madame de Grangeville whispered in my ear: 'I congratulate you on your choice! Monsieur de Santoval is one of the handsomest cavaliers at court!'" "Did that flatter you, madame?" "Flatter me? Bah! what difference do you think that it makes to me? When one has no love for a man, what does one care what people say about him?" "Monsieur de Santoval seems to be very much in love, himself!" "In love with me?--Hum! yes, perhaps he is; but he is very proud, very haughty, and, above all, very jealous of his honor!" "And of madame too, probably?" "Why, of course, as the two go together!--What a strange thing!" "What is strange, madame?" "Nothing! nothing!" And Valentine smiled, as if she had had the thought which Beaumarchais many years later put into the mouth of Comte Almaviva in _Le Mariage de Figaro_. "Has not Joseph returned, Miretta?" "No, madame, not yet." "How long a time that fellow takes to do such a simple errand! I sent him to Madame de Ligneulle's, only a few steps away, to ask if she expected to go to the Baronne de Beaumont's this evening; and it is more than an hour since he went! He amuses himself by the way, it seems." "It surprises me, madame, for Joseph is usually very zealous and very prompt in the execution of madame's orders." "I know it, and that is why I employ him. But Madame de Ligneulle's house is within five minutes' walk--and to take more than an hour in going there and returning!" "They kept him waiting, no doubt." "When a messenger comes from me, she never keeps him waiting." "Does madame mean to go to Madame de Beaumont's this evening?"