Monsieur de Merval was ushered into the room; he entered with the exquisite courtesy which distinguished him, and took a chair near Madame de Grangeville, who said to him with her most engaging smile: “I am very glad that you remembered the promise that you gave me at Monsieur Glumeau’s. I did not rely very much upon it.” “Why so, madame? Do you think that I also was not delighted to meet again, to see once more, a person who carried me back to the pleasant days of my youth--in memory, to be sure; but those memories are too agreeable ever to be effaced entirely.” “Dear Armand!--I beg pardon, will you permit me still to call you so?” “It is a token of friendship for which I thank you.” “I was unmarried when I knew you; we used to meet often at parties; then you came to my uncle’s house.” “Yes, madame, yes, the evenings at your uncle’s were delightful; you did the honors with such grace; so that we rated ourselves as very fortunate when we were on the list of your guests.” “Yes, we used to have music and singing. Do you remember little Dumesnil, how false she sang?” “I remember especially that you sang like an angel. We used to dance, too, quite often.” “Yes, while the sober people played whist or bouillotte. You waltzed divinely, Armand; you were our best waltzer.” “True, the waltz was my specialty.” “And you never were able to make tall Adèle Brillange dance in time; do you remember her--rather a pretty blonde?” “Really, I hardly remember her. Just remember that that was fully twenty-three or twenty-four years ago!” Madame de Grangeville bit her lips, not at all pleased to find that her old acquaintance remembered dates so well. “Do you still waltz, Monsieur de Merval?” “Oh! that is all over, madame; I have had my day.” “Bless my soul! to hear you, one would think that we belonged to the age of Louis XV!” “No one would think so to look at you, madame; time has stood still for you.” This compliment restored the serenity of Madame de Grangeville’s expression, and she replied, simpering a little: “Ah! you are always agreeable; would that I were back in those happy days! Tell me, Armand, if I remember aright, you used to pay court to me then,--yes, you were very attentive to me.” Monsieur de Merval seemed decidedly embarrassed; he glanced about the salon and replied at last: “I don’t deny it, madame, but I remember also that as soon as the Comte de Brévanne was introduced to you, discovering that his love was welcomed with enthusiasm, I thought only of making an honorable retreat; and I was wise, as the count became your husband.” “Yes, he became my husband.” “It was a love match, was it not, madame?” “Oh! mon Dieu! is it possible to say, when one is so young? One always imagines that one is in love, but one does not even know what love is. You must have been very much surprised to learn that I was no longer living with Monsieur de Brévanne?” “Yes, madame; and yet such things happen rather often.”