And to-morrow you shall have my answer." "Ah!" thought I; "the Vicomtesse decides it." And I followed Monsieur de Clericy towards the door.
"It is half-past eleven," he said, looking at his modest silver watch.
"We shall find Madame in her boudoir." This apartment, it appeared, was situated beyond the drawing-room, of which we now passed the door.

Below us was the great square hall, dark and gloomy; for its windows had been heavily barred in the old stirring times, and but little light filtered through the ironwork.

At the head of the stairs was a gallery completely surrounding the quadrangle, and from this gallery access was gained to all the dwelling rooms.
The Vicomte tapped at the door of Madame's room, and without waiting for an answer passed in.

I, having purposely lingered, did not hear the few words spoken upon the threshold, and only advanced when bidden to do so by my companion.
[Illustration: "MONSIEUR HOWARD NATURALLY WISHED TO BE PRESENTED TO YOU."] An elderly lady stood by the window, having just risen from the broad seat thereof, which was littered with the trifles of a lady's work-basket.

The Vicomtesse was obviously many years younger than her husband--a trim woman of fifty or thereabouts, with crinkled grey hair and the clear brown complexion of the Provencale.