"Pardon, monsieur le comte, I thought that my mistress had told you.

Well, you will say to the concierge: 'I am going to see Miretta.'"

"Miretta!" faltered Leodgard, to whose mind the young lady's-maid's name seemed to recall a painful memory; and a sudden change took place in his expression.

"Yes, seigneur, my name is Miretta," replied the pretty brunette, who had observed the magical effect which her name produced on the count, and wished to know the cause of it. "Does my name remind you of anyone whom you have known?"

"No--no--no one," stammered Leodgard, who, as he strove to recover his self-possession, scrutinized the girl with peculiar attention. "Have you been long in the Marquise de Santoval's service?"

"I entered Mademoiselle de Mongarcin's service on my arrival in Paris, more than three years ago. I had a letter of recommendation for mademoiselle."

"Ah! and you came----"

"I came from Italy; I was reared in the outskirts of Milan."

Leodgard's features contracted still more, but in an instant he rejoined hurriedly:

"This evening at nine o'clock; I will be prompt. a.s.sure your mistress of the zeal with which I shall fly to her."

As he spoke, Leodgard slipped a purse into Miretta's hand, then walked away before she had time to realize his action.

The girl gazed with a feeling of repugnance at the purse the count had put in her hand, and said to herself:

"Why does he give me this money? Does he think, I wonder, that I need it to induce me to obey my mistress, to serve her faithfully? From her I may properly accept the wages that I earn, but I wish for nothing from others. I do not know why this young n.o.bleman arouses a sort of secret antipathy in my heart. I cannot understand what took place within me when my eyes first beheld him;--all my blood rushed back to my heart.

And yet, I do not know the man. How is it that his expression changed when I told him my name?--Oh! I detected his emotion! He shuddered; one would have said that I frightened him! It is certain that it was not the first time that he had heard the name Miretta. Perhaps it reminded him of some other poor girl whom he seduced and then deserted!--But this purse weighs upon me; I do not propose to keep it; it seems to me that it burns me.--Ah! I know what I can do with it."

A little beggar was pa.s.sing through the square; Miretta ran to him and thrust into the little fellow's hand the purse filled with glistening gold pieces.

"This is for you," she said; then she hurried away and disappeared, leaving the boy utterly dumfounded by the fortune that had come to him; but it was the same child to whom Blanche had given alms a few moments before, and the alms of an angel should bring him good luck.

Miretta returned at once to the Hotel de Santoval, and went straight to her mistress; having a.s.sured herself that no one could hear them, she said:

"Your errand is done, madame."

"You have seen the count?"

"Yes, madame; he was waiting on Place Royale. He will be here this evening, at nine o'clock."

"You told him what direction he must take to reach your room?"

"Yes, madame.--Oh! he will not go astray."

"Did he seem very happy on receiving the appointment?"

"Oh, yes!--He would be glad, he said, to defy a thousand dangers to see madame."

"Well! we will afford him that pleasure.--You had never seen Leodgard, Miretta; is he not a charming cavalier?"

"Why, yes, madame; he is well favored."

"You say that as if you thought just the opposite!"

"Mon Dieu! madame, the fact is, that, although monsieur le comte is a handsome gentleman, I--I do not like his face."

"You are hard to please, Miretta!"

"But--but I inferred--I thought from what madame had said to me, that monsieur le comte had ceased to please her."

"I propose to have my revenge for the affront he put upon me! But that does not prevent me from doing him justice.--The rendezvous this evening will be without danger for him--at least, I think so; but I shall be very glad to see at my feet the man who refused to be my husband! I long to hear him make oaths of love, protestations of undying affection for me. I want him to curse the day on which he allowed me to become the wife of another man!"

"But, beware, madame!--Since you consider monsieur le comte so fascinating, are you not afraid that that feeling will triumph over your resentment, as you listen to his words of love?"

"Oh, no! no! I fear nothing!--Besides, you will stay with me, Miretta; you will not leave me."

On both sides the coming of night was awaited with impatience.

It came at last, and about eight o'clock the Marquis de Santoval went to his wife's apartment; she had feigned indisposition since the day before, and had remained in her room.

The marquis glanced about him for some time with an expression that was far from benevolent. He had never said a word to Valentine on the subject of the young clerk whom he had had cudgelled. Monsieur de Santoval was one of those men who do not speak for a mere suspicion, but who collect facts, and are terrible when they allow the storm to burst which they have long repressed in the depths of their hearts.

"Well, madame, how are you this evening?" he asked, as he seated himself beside his wife.

"Still about the same, monsieur; my head aches, and I feel languid; I must have a touch of fever.--See, feel my pulse."

"I know nothing of such matters, madame," replied the marquis; and he did not touch the arm that his wife held out to him.

"Oh! that is a pity!"

"So you cannot come with me to the d.u.c.h.esse de Brillac's?"

"You must realize that it is impossible, monsieur. In my opinion, one should not go into society looking as if one were bored and ill! You must make my excuses to the d.u.c.h.ess."

"Yes, madame, yes. I am sorry to leave you not feeling well; and if I had not promised the duke----"

"I should be very sorry to have you deprive yourself of an agreeable evening because of a simple indisposition, entirely unattended by any danger.--I have Miretta, who will stay with me, who will not leave me."

"Your faithful maid. That girl is very much attached to you, is she not?"

"I think so; I have every reason to praise her zeal and her fidelity."

"And I think that she should congratulate herself on being in your service. She must be very happy here; and yet, I have noticed of late that she seems to be profoundly sad and depressed. A smile never appears on her lips. Have not you noticed it, madame?"

"Pardon me, monsieur; but as I know the cause of her melancholy, I overlook it."

"Ah! you know the cause of it?"

"Indeed, it is not difficult to guess: an unfortunate love affair; the man she loves has disappeared!"

"Very good; I see that you know your maid's secrets."