As she spoke, Madame de Hansfeld rose, replaced her mask, and opened the door of the box.
"Ah, madame," exclaimed De Morville, "for Heaven's sake one word more."
Madame de Hansfeld made a gesture so proud, so dignified, that De Morville no longer endeavoured to prolong the interview.
The princess opened the door and disappeared; in a few minutes De Morville followed her example.
As he passed before the chest we have previously spoken of, he found a crowd, so great, that whilst waiting to pass it he had time to overhear these words:—
"My stars! Brévannes," said the malicious domino, who had been sitting all the evening on the chest, "what a sensation you produce! what a scream the domino with a knot of blue and yellow ribands gave when she passed you!"
"I don't claim the merit," replied M. de Brévannes, gaily; "I am no more responsible for the domino's scream than Fierval or Heronville."
"The domino could not have been more alarmed if she had seen the devil himself," said M. de Fierval.
M. de Morville listened with the greatest attention when he found that the princess formed the subject of their conversation (she wore, as our readers will recollect, a knot of blue and yellow ribands, which she had not removed; De Morville had had the precaution to take off his).
"It was one of your victims, perhaps," said Fierval, jestingly, to M. de Brévannes.