"At this moment I am simply the echo of what is said on every side.--What think you of this fête, _belle dame_? a little crowded, is it not?" "Why, monsieur, it seems to me to be very brilliant, very splendid!" "Humph! too many people! That is the way with these foreigners; when they want to give a fête, they invite and invite! they would do much better to make a selection, to sort people out." "What! do you mean to say that you have seen anybody who is out of place here?" "I do not say that; still, after all, he might well have invited a smaller number." "They say that the cardinal is coming." "That is possible; but it is all the same to me--I don't care about seeing him, I have no request to make of him. He has just organized two companies of _mousquetaires_, but I fancy that he will not appoint me to a captaincy. Ha! ha!" "Still fond of your laugh, my dear De Noirteuil!" "Ah! I must have something, you know, marquis! Now, you possess an enchanting wife, and I, my gayety! I never had any other companion; but it has its good points.--Mon Dieu! what do I see? What miracle is this? Is it really he? Yes, it is himself, on my word!" "Of whom are you speaking, De Noirteuil?" "Of that young cavalier whom I see yonder, at the entrance of the gallery; dressed in the extreme of fashion, with princely magnificence! But he carries it well, vrai Dieu! He is a very pretty fellow, that Léodgard de Marvejols!" "Ah! you are speaking of the Comte de Marvejols?--What is the matter, Valentine? do you feel ill?" "I, monsieur? not in the least. Why do you ask me that?" "Because it seemed to me that your arm suddenly rested very heavily on mine.--I am happy that my alarm was unfounded." "I uttered that exclamation of surprise," continued the hunchback, "because it is a long while since young Marvejols has been seen at any ball or party; he has ceased entirely to go to court; in short, between us, he is looked upon as a regular _mauvais sujet_, who frequents only courtesans and low gambling hells!" "It would seem that you are not his friend, monsieur," said Valentine, with an ironical glance at the little man. "I, madame la marquise? Oh! I bear him no ill will. I have never been his rival. Ha! ha!--Look, he is coming this way!" Léodgard, having learned from several persons that the Marquise de Santoval was in that room, was trying to force his way through the crowd and had succeeded in reaching a point within a few feet of the window where Valentine was. Old De Noirteuil immediately bowed several times to Léodgard and offered him his hand, saying, in the shrill, piercing voice which seems to be the patrimony of hunchbacks: