"She is so delightfully dressed!—It was then a love-match?"
"Decidedly; but they say Brévannes is very unfaithful."
"What! that fat man in spectacles?"
"No, my dear, that must be, I should say, the sobieski of the sobieska," said De Beaulieu to his sister.
"M. de Brévannes," added Fierval, "is a dark man, with a very expressive countenance. Madame de Girard's casquette hides him. Now——."
"What an unprepossessing physiognomy! I don't like the looks of the man."
"You are wrong, I assure you. De Brévannes is what is called a very good fellow, only his temper is of iron, inflexible. What he will he will."
At the noise of some chairs which were being moved in the next box, Madame de Luceval put her head forward, and recognised Madame de Lormoy, aunt of M. de Morville.
"Ah, madame, how fortunate to be so near you!" said Madame de Luceval. "Are you alone in your box? I shall pay you a visit."
"I am expecting Madame de Hansfeld; and, strange to say, her husband accompanies her," said Madame de Lormoy.