Léodgard succeeded without difficulty in finding Valentine. The young marchioness, alleging the heat as a pretext, had refused all invitations to dance; she had seated herself on one of the raised benches in the gallery, which were so arranged that the ladies who sat there could enjoy the sight of the ball without moving. When he discovered Valentine, the Comte de Marvejols leaned against a pillar within fifteen feet of her, because from that place, thanks to her elevated position, he could gaze at her at his ease. The Marquis de Santoval, being at the foot of the benches, and surrounded by people, could not see Léodgard. The latter had been in his chosen place but a few moments when he became certain that Valentine had seen him, that she knew that he was there for the sole purpose of admiring her and watching her movements. Thereafter he saw nobody in the whole assemblage but that woman, a single glance from whose eyes had sufficed to set his heart on fire. All the passing, all the going and coming about him were powerless to divert his attention; his eyes did not wander from the Marquise de Santoval. "Vive Dieu! my dear count, you are terribly preoccupied, this is the second time that I have spoken to you without obtaining a reply!" As he spoke, the Baron de Montrevert placed his hand on Léodgard's arm; the latter angrily roused himself from his contemplation and muttered: "Well! what is it, Montrevert? Is not a man the master of his thoughts and actions here?" "Oh, the devil! How surly you are to-night, Léodgard! Have I disturbed you in some very pleasant occupation? I will wager that I know what has nailed you to this pillar! Yes, now I know!--Aha! my dear master, we are admiring the Marquise de Santoval, who is on one of the benches yonder!--Well! in that case, I forgive you for snarling at me--such a lovely woman is quite capable of making us forget our friends!--But look--it seems to me that she casts a glance in our direction; this is a good place, apparently!" Léodgard had resumed his contemplation of the marchioness and was no longer listening to Montrevert. At that moment the little old hunchback joined them and stood on tiptoe, crying: "What are you looking at there? Is the cardinal in that direction? I don't care about seeing him--I know him; still, as they say that he is thinner than ever, I should like to judge.--Montrevert, take me in your arms a moment, so that I may see." Montrevert followed Léodgard's example--he did not reply. The Chevalier de La Valteline, who also had stopped near them, said to Monsieur de Noirteuil: "Console yourself; it is not the cardinal they are looking at; it is the young Marquise de Santoval, whom everybody is admiring."