She murmured something sharply in French, and fixed her eyes on her son.

At this moment the door of the room was thrown open, and with a rapid step Valentin reappeared.
"I have a message for you," he said to his sister-in-law.

"Claire bids me to request you not to start for your ball.

She will go with you." "Claire will go with us!" cried the young marquise.

"En voila, du nouveau!" "She has changed her mind; she decided half an hour ago, and she is sticking the last diamond into her hair," said Valentin.
"What has taken possession of my daughter ?" demanded Madame de Bellegarde, sternly.