Suddenly she hears Bärenburg's name.

"Have you seen Countess Bärenburg yet, Madame Jeliagin?" asks a certain Mrs. Joyce.

"No; I did not think that she was in Paris."

"She is only here for a short time," continues Mrs. Joyce; "she has come from Vienna."

"To take care of her son?" asks Madame Jeliagin. "As I hear, he was wounded in a duel."

"Ah! that was nothing; he has already recovered. He indeed still carries his arm in a sling, but I met him yesterday in the Bois. The Countess has come here to her son's betrothal. Bärenburg is betrothed to Sylvia Anthropos."

"Since when?" asks Anna, sharply.

"Since about ten days; Sylvia told me to-day," says Mrs. Joyce.

"You know that the Countess Bärenburg is an Englishwoman."

"Yes, Lady Banbury's sister."