Now that the sight was over, the Princess de Harn arrived, and she was the more furious as at the door of the wine shop she could see her new friend Duthil accompanying a woman.
"I say!" she exclaimed, "you are nice, you are, to have left me in the lurch like this! It was impossible for my carriage to get near, so I've had to come on foot through all those horrid people who have been jostling and insulting me." Thereupon Duthil, with all promptitude, introduced Silviane to her, adding, in an aside, that he had taken a friend's place as the actress's escort.

And then Rosemonde, who greatly wished to know Silviane, calmed down as if by enchantment, and put on her most engaging ways.

"It would have delighted me, madame," said she, "to have seen this sight in the company of an _artiste_ of your merit, one whom I admire so much, though I have never before had an opportunity of telling her so." "Well, dear me, madame," replied Silviane, "you haven't lost much by arriving late.

We were on that balcony there, and all that I could see were a few men pushing another one about....

It really isn't worth the trouble of coming." "Well, now that we have become acquainted, madame," said the Princess, "I really hope that you will allow me to be your friend." "Certainly, madame, my friend; and I shall be flattered and delighted to be yours." Standing there, hand in hand, they smiled at one another.