"Yes, yes, yes," he said, stretching his arms toward their vanishing figures; "yes, au revoir! au revoir!" The two girls continued their way without uttering a word, until they reached the castle gate, and there Bertha said, abruptly:-- "Mary, I know you will laugh at me!" "Why?" asked Mary, trembling. "I love him!" replied Bertha. A cry of pain had almost escaped from Mary's lips, but she smothered it. "And I called to him 'au revoir!'" she whispered to herself. "God grant I may never, never see him again." XIII. A DISTANT COUSIN. The day after the events we have just related,--that is to say, on the 7th of May, 1832,--a great dinner-party was given at the château de Vouillé, to celebrate the birthday of Madame la Comtesse de Vouillé, who had on that day completed her twenty-fourth year. The company had just sat down to table, and at this table, among twenty-five other guests, was the prefect of Vienne and the mayor of Châtellerault, relations more or less distant of Madame de Vouillé. The soup was just removed when a servant entered the dining-room, and said a few words in Monsieur de Vouillé's ear. Monsieur de Vouillé made the man repeat them twice. Then addressing his guests, he said:-- "I beg you to excuse me for a few moments. A lady has arrived at the gate in a post-chaise, and she insists on speaking to me personally. Will you allow me to see what this lady wants?" Permission was, of course, unanimously granted, though Madame de Vouillé's eyes followed her husband to the door with some uneasiness. Monsieur de Vouillé hastened to the gate. There, sure enough, was a post-chaise, containing two persons, a man and a woman. A servant in sky-blue livery with silver lace, was on the box. When he saw Monsieur de Vouillé, whom he seemed to be expecting impatiently, he jumped lightly down. "Come, come, slow coach!" he said, as soon as the count was near enough to hear him. Monsieur de Vouillé stopped short, amazed,--more than amazed, stupefied. What manner of servant was this, who dared to apostrophize him in that style? He went nearer to let the fellow know his mind. Then he stopped, and burst out laughing. "What! is it you, de Lussac?" he said. "Yes; undoubtedly, it is I." "What is all this masquerading about?" The counterfeit servant opened the carriage door and offered his arm to enable the lady to get out of the chaise. Then he said:-- "My dear count, I have the honor to present you to Madame la Duchesse de Berry." Bowing to the duchess, he continued, "Madame la duchesse, Monsieur le Comte de Vouillé is one of my best friends and one of your most devoted servants." The count retreated a few steps. "Madame la Duchesse de Berry!" he exclaimed, stupefied. "In person, monsieur," said the duchess. "Are you not proud and happy to receive her Royal Highness?" said de Lussac. "As proud and happy as an ardent royalist can be; but--"