The voice of the prince interrupted Paula.
Her salon was separated from the other apartments by a long gallery similar to that which De Hansfeld occupied on the upper story.
Velvet hangings supplied the place of doors, and Paula heard her husband's voice as he inquired of the valet-de-chambre, who was waiting at the extremity of the gallery, if the princess were there.
"It is the prince!" exclaimed Iris.
"He is going to meet this young lady," said Paula: "both of them ignorant that M. de Brévannes is cognisant of their love, and with a horrid calculation will feign to be ignorant of that love. Oh! it is horrible to leave them in this blind, this fatal confidence!"
Iris said quickly,—
"Will you spare these two unfortunates, and renounce M. de Morville? Be it so, by and by, at the moment when M. de Brévannes leaves the hotel, I will find some means of speaking to him, and in two words I will disclose to him the trickery of the Black Book."
Paula started.
"Is not that what you wish, godmother?"
"Yes, yes!"