"Most decidedly the Princess de Hansfeld is in high beauty to-night. How charmingly that garnet-coloured gown becomes her! What splendid shoulders! I never had so good a view of her before. Who is that with her?"
"Madame de Lormoy, De Morville's aunt."
"But I should say there was some one else at the back of the box?"
"No."
"Yes, I assure you."
"The boxes are so dark."
"Perhaps it is the prince."
"What! have they released him then?"
"So it appears; but we can't see his face—De Morville's aunt hides him."
"Talking of De Morville, how is it he is not here,—he, the bosom friend of Gercourt?"