Despite her husband's habitual impassiveness, Madame de Hansfeld could not help a shudder and a frown of her black eyebrows at the frightened gesture of the prince when she presented her flacon to him; but neither Madame de Lormoy nor M. de Fierval, who were occupied with the prince, observed her emotion.
The indisposition of the prince occurred between the acts, and several persons came to help to convey the prince to his carriage; and amongst the inquisitives was M. Girard, whom his wife had despatched to ascertain what effect her sobieska had occasioned in the public mind.
M. Girard took very good care not to make a single inquiry on this subject, resolving to tell his spouse that her dashing casquette had excited the utmost admiration. He returned hastily to the box to inform her of the prince's fainting fit. He had scarcely opened the door, and said to Madame Girard, "My love——," than she, without allowing him to add another word, exclaimed,—
"Run as fast as you can to see what is the matter with the Prince de Hansfeld: they have carried him out, I understand, into the lobby in front of us."
"But, my dearest——"
"Go quick, I tell you——"
"But, my life, I have come to——"
"Go, I say, Timoléon."
"I beg of you to hear me——."
"Oh!—how tiresome you are! Pray, go as quickly as you can."