"But, my dear Irène, this is a strange caprice," said the elder of the two. "What will the Countess say?"
"My dear Madame Ursula, it would oblige me if you would cease your moans, that is, unless you should prefer to return to the château alone!"
The dear Madame Ursula was a tall, thin woman, wearing blue glasses. She was evidently a companion or governess.
Irène, in her riding-habit, looked about twenty. Her hair was jet black, and curled over a marble white brow. Her hat, Louis XIII. in shape, with curling plumes, gave a haughty expression to her dainty features. She looked as if she might have stepped from out the frame of one of the pictures of Velasquez. Her beauty was striking. Fanfar grasped it, Caillette studied it.
"Pray tell me," said the young lady to Gudel, "if you have no seats where I can avoid contact with the crowd? I am ready to pay any sum you ask."
"Oh! we have but one price, ten sous."
The governess uttered a small gasp, and the young girl shrugged her shoulders impatiently.
She drew out a handful of gold pieces from her bag.
"Take these," she said, "and do the best you can for me."
Gudel was puzzled and troubled.