"I am at Madame de Hansfeld's order," observed De Brévannes; "only I would remark, that the rest of birds of passage is usually very brief, and we ought to reach my house as soon as possible."
"What say you, madame?" inquired De Hansfeld of his wife.
"To-morrow, if that would suit Madame de Brévannes."
"Quite," said De Brévannes. "I and my wife will set out this evening, and precede you a few hours, so that we may have the pleasure of awaiting you there."
At this moment Iris arose. This movement reminded Madame de Hansfeld of all the terrible reality of her position.
A cloud passed before her eyes. Her breath was for an instant stopped by the violent throbbings of her heart, and she shuddered as if an ice-cold hand was passing through her hair.
The fatal moment had arrived. She was now to take the first step in the path of crime.
If she allowed Iris to leave the room without giving her the pin, the girl was to disclose all to M. de Brévannes, and Paula must renounce every hope, so near and probable, of marrying De Morville, by profiting from the double murder of which she would be completely innocent in the eyes of the world.
Iris, with a little noise, arranged some things on the table in order to warn her mistress.
Paula still hesitated.