As he spoke, the Baron de Montrevert placed his hand on Léodgard's arm; the latter angrily roused himself from his contemplation and muttered:
"Well! what is it, Montrevert? Is not a man the master of his thoughts and actions here?"
"Oh, the devil! How surly you are to-night, Léodgard! Have I disturbed you in some very pleasant occupation? I will wager that I know what has nailed you to this pillar! Yes, now I know!—Aha! my dear master, we are admiring the Marquise de Santoval, who is on one of the benches yonder!—Well! in that case, I forgive you for snarling at me—such a lovely woman is quite capable of making us forget our friends!—But look—it seems to me that she casts a glance in our direction; this is a good place, apparently!"
Léodgard had resumed his contemplation of the marchioness and was no longer listening to Montrevert.
At that moment the little old hunchback joined them and stood on tiptoe, crying:
"What are you looking at there? Is the cardinal in that direction? I don't care about seeing him—I know him; still, as they say that he is thinner than ever, I should like to judge.—Montrevert, take me in your arms a moment, so that I may see."
Montrevert followed Léodgard's example—he did not reply. The Chevalier de La Valteline, who also had stopped near them, said to Monsieur de Noirteuil:
"Console yourself; it is not the cardinal they are looking at; it is the young Marquise de Santoval, whom everybody is admiring."
"The Marquise de Santoval! Oh! that makes a difference; I know her! I am very intimate with her husband!—But what a noise there is in the next room! Doubtless the cardinal is making his entrée; he seems to be coming this way, for the commotion is approaching us. So much the better! we shall be able to see him."
At that moment, the new arrival, whose peculiar costume and unique figure caused such a lively sensation in the throng that filled the rooms, made his appearance at the door of the gallery where the benches were. At sight of him many ladies could not control their desire to laugh, which they tried to dissemble behind their fans, while the little hunchback cried: