The crowd was therefore so great that one sometimes had to wait a long while before going from one room to another, if one did not wish to be suffocated.
A young woman of rare beauty, holding her elegant figure gracefully erect, and leaning on the arm of a man of forty, whose face wore a severe but noble expression, led her escort into a window recess as if in search of air, saying:
"In heaven's name, monsieur le marquis, let us not mingle with that crowd; let us wait here a moment, where we may perhaps be able to breathe! Mon Dieu! what a multitude of people! the whole court and the whole city are at this fête!"
"If you dread the heat, if this crowded hall has no charms for you, Valentine, we will go away."
"Oh, no! I wish to stay; it is a very brilliant affair; but I would like to rest a moment here."
"As you please."
"Why, here is Monsieur le Marquis de Santoval!" cried a little hunchbacked old man, who held his head erect, however, and whose eyes were instinct with cunning and good humor, addressing the escort of the lady who had taken refuge in the window recess; "have I the honor of saluting madame la marquise?"
"Yes, my dear De Noirteuil," replied Monsieur de Santoval, shaking hands with the little old man.
"Madame, allow me to present Monsieur de Noirteuil, a gentleman from the South—like myself; moreover, a clever diplomatist who has often placed his talents at the service of his country, and always with success."