De Brévannes bowed.
The prince returned his salute, and said, with much affability,—
"I shall be always delighted, sir, to see you at Madame de Hansfeld's, and hope I shall often have that pleasure."
"As often, sir, as it will be possible for me to profit by so agreeable a request without intrusion."
After these indispensable preliminaries, the four persons seated themselves, Paula in her place on the right hand of the fire-place, Bertha on the left hand side, De Brévannes beside Madame de Hansfeld, and Arnold by the engraver's daughter.
The prince, feeling the utter necessity of subduing his emotion, did the honours of his house with perfect dignity.
Bertha, on her part, gradually resumed her self-possession. Paula exerted herself not to give way to the terrible ideas which had occupied her brain since her conversation with Iris.
De Brévannes, who had always heard the prince mentioned as a sort of original, whimsical, strange-tempered, and half an idiot, and had asked himself how his wife could be smitten with such a man, was utterly amazed at the distinguished manners and urbane condescension of De Hansfeld, whose youthful and mild features were singularly attractive.
It was then he fully comprehended Bertha's love, and his rage increased against her and De Hansfeld. From time to time he cast a furtive glance upon her, as fierce as the glare of a tiger, then he sought Paula's look with an air of intelligence, by turns gloomy and impassioned, which proved to Madame de Hansfeld that Iris had not deceived her with respect to the Black Book.
After the few first commonplaces had passed, a silence succeeded that was somewhat embarrassing.