"And that I love a hundred times more from this evening forward," said he, in a changed and genuinely affected tone.
She did not reply, but looked at him full in the face as if to inform him that she understood him. He was quite pale.
"Would you not like to be one of the bright ornaments of my salon, as you are of that of Madame Marsy?" said he, in a whisper.
"With the greatest happiness, your Excellency."
What Sulpice said was not heard by the others; but Marianne felt that she was observed, envied already, and manifested her complete satisfaction with a toss of her head. In this atmosphere of flattery, oppressive as with the heavy odor of incense, she experienced a sensation of omnipotence, the intoxication of that power with which Vaudrey was invested, whose envied reflection was cast on her by that simple aside spoken in the midst of the crowd.
She was delighted and exceedingly proud. She almost forgot that her visit had been made on Rosas's account.
Vaudrey was about to add something, when Madame Marsy in passing to greet her guests, noticed Marianne and grasping her hand:
"I beg your pardon, your Excellency," she said, "but I must take her away from you. I have been asked for her."
"By whom?" said Vaudrey.
"Monsieur de Rosas!"