A few minutes after M. de Luceval had taken his departure, Lise, the maid, entered the room with a rather frightened air, and said to her mistress:
"A lady, who says her name is Madame d'Infreville, is down at the door, in a carriage."
"Valentine!" exclaimed the young marquise, in accents of joyful surprise. "It is ages since I saw her. Ask her to come up at once."
"But that is impossible, madame."
"And why?"
"The lady sent, through the concierge, for madame's maid. Some one told me and I went down at once. When I got there, the lady, who was frightfully pale, said to me: 'Mademoiselle, go to Madame de Luceval and ask her to have the goodness to come down here for a moment. I want to speak to her on a very important matter. Tell her that my name is Madame d'Infreville,—Valentine d'Infreville.'"
Lise had scarcely uttered these words before a footman entered the room, after having knocked, and said to Florence:
"Will madame la marquise see Madame d'Infreville?"
"What!" exclaimed Florence, greatly surprised at this sudden change in her friend's resolution, "is Madame d'Infreville here?"
"Yes, madame."