And as she spoke, Paula, resting on her elbow on the mantel-piece, still retaining the pin, had mechanically, and, as if playing with it, placed it close to the hand of Iris extended on the marble slab.
The Bohemian seized it quickly.
The princess, alarmed, snatched it from her with violence, exclaiming,—
"No, no: that would be horrible. Oh, never, never! Die first all my dearest hopes!"
CHAPTER XL
[THE BLACK BOOK]
Two days after the last interview between Madame de Hansfeld and De Morville at the Opera ball, Iris had again taken, as she promised, the Black Book to De Brévannes, who read therein the following lines, which, as before, he attributed to the princess:—
"I am so troubled at this meeting, that I can scarcely collect my thoughts. I am afraid to recall what I have promised to M. de Brévannes. I have given him cause to suspect, perhaps......
"What, then, can be this man's power? I went to meet him quite resolved to display the most pitiless coldness; and yet, scarcely did I see him but I forgot all—even his threats!
"What fatality has brought him here for my misfortune?