"What! the princess! It is she to whom——"
"I hope to present you the day after to-morrow."
"Oh, never, never!" exclaimed Bertha, involuntarily. To take advantage of this offer, which gave her the means of seeing the prince again, seemed to her most odious treachery.
De Brévannes, although astonished at his wife's exclamation, at first believed that she refused from timidity, and said,—
"Come, come, what a child you are! Although a a very high lady, the Princess de Hansfeld is one of the plainest persons in the world, and you will please her very much, I am sure."
"My dear Charles, I beg of you not to introduce me to the princess, but leave me in the retirement in which I have hitherto lived."
"My dearest girl, I beg of you, in my turn," said De Brévannes, repressing his ire, "not to have any such whim and bad taste. But just now you decided on doing what I desired, and yet now you wish to withdraw your promise. Be consistent, pray."
"It is really impossible! No, no, Charles, I beg of you, do not exact this from me."
"Really now, this is quite silly! You obstinately refuse what so many would sue for as an unexpected boon."
"I know it, I believe it; and, therefore, if I refuse, believe that I have my reasons for so doing."