No, my darling, there is no Samuel Brohl: I dined yesterday at Maisons with the most authentic of Counts Larinski, and nothing remains for me to say but to present my best wishes for the certain happiness of the Countess Larinski, _et cetera_--of the Countess Larinski and company." With these words she bowed, turned on her heels, and disappeared.
Mlle.

Moriaz remained an instant as if stunned by a blow.

She questioned herself as to whether she had not seen a vision, or had had the nightmare.

Was it, indeed, a Russian princess of flesh and blood who had just been there, who had been seated close beside her, and had conversed so strangely with her that the belfry of Cormeilles could not hear it without falling into a profound stupor?
In fact, the belfry of Cormeilles had become silent, its bells no longer rang; an appalling silence reigned for two leagues round.
Antoinette soon controlled her emotions.

"The day before yesterday," she thought, "this woman appeared to me to be deranged: she is a lunatic; I wish that Abel were here, he could tell me what happened at dinner between him and this dotard, and we should laugh over it together.
Perhaps nothing happened at all.