I met her at the house of Madame d'Ailange, who spoke eloquently of her charms of mind and body, and I hope to have the pleasure of presenting her to you to-day." "Here, at our house ?" "Certainly; there is nothing odd in this.

Besides, the lady is no stranger to us; she comes from our own part of the country, and you know her." A flush came over his face, and he busied himself with the fire to conceal it as he added,-- "You recollect Mademoiselle de Laurebourg ?" "Do you mean Diana de Laurebourg ?" "Exactly so." "I saw very little of her, for my father and hers did not get on very well together.

The Marquis de Laurebourg looked on us as too insignificant to--" "Ah, well," interrupted he, "I trust that the daughter will make up for the father's shortcomings.

She married just after our wedding had been celebrated, and her husband is the Count de Mussidan.

She will call on you to-day, and I have told your servants to say that you are at home." The silence that followed this speech lasted for nearly a couple of minutes, and became exceedingly embarrassing, when suddenly the sound of wheels was heard on the gravel of the courtyard, and in a moment afterwards a servant came and announced that the Countess de Mussidan was in the drawing-room.