I sent to secure a stall, and in the evening went to that theatre.
CHAPTER XVIII
THE BEAR AND THE PACHA
Among other plays at the Variétés that evening, they were giving "The Bear and the Pacha." This was one of M. de Fersen's triumphs at Constantinople, where he had taken, with great success, the part of Schaabaham, and he was most eager to see Brunet playing the same part.
Madame de Fersen arrived about nine o'clock, with her husband and the Duchess of ——. They took their places in a proscenium box, of which the lattices were half raised.
Catherine saw me, and gave me a gracious bow.
I found her pale and changed.
I have no recollection of the piece they played, and on the fall of the curtain I went to Madame de Fersen's box.
She was not well. I was looking at her attentively, when the prince said: "Be our umpire; you rarely see Madame de Fersen, and can better than any one notice a change; do you not find she has fallen away very much?"
I said I did not think so; that Madame de Fersen seemed to me in perfect health. The prince proclaimed me an impudent flatterer, etc.