"All I have been able to learn is, that he was married in Italy, and that, after a journey to England, he came and established himself here."
"As far as one may hazard an opinion on so obscure a matter," said another, "I should decidedly say that the prince was weak in his intellect, or something very like it."
"In fact," observed the domino, "the care that is taken to conceal him from all eyes——"
"The embarrassment of the Saxon minister, in replying to you," said M. de Brévannes to M. de Fierval; "the sombre and melancholy air of the princess.—But then, why does this melancholy beauty go into the world?"
"Do you wish to keep her constantly immured with her idiot—if idiot he be?"
"But she always has the melancholy and sombre appearance you speak of, what pleasure can she find in the world?"
"Ma foi, I really cannot tell," said M. de Fierval; "it is just this very mystery, which joined to Madame de Hansfeld's beauty, makes her so much the rage."
"Has she no intimate friend who could disclose something about her?" inquired M. de Brévannes.
"I heard Madame de Lormoy say, that, on going one morning to see Madame de Hansfeld, at the Hôtel Lambert, she suddenly heard, near the apartment in which she was, some notes of delicious harmony, played on a finger-organ with exquisite skill. The princess could not repress a movement of impatience; she made a sign to her companion with the dark countenance, who went out instantly, and a few moments afterwards the sounds ceased!"
"And did not Madame de Lormoy inquire whence those notes of the organ came?"