It might be that Madame de Grangeville had not passed her fortieth birthday, but it would have been dangerous to make that assertion, because she was always so carefully gotten up, even in the most trivial details of her toilet, because she was always dressed in such perfect taste, made use of such delicious perfumery, and carried herself so gracefully, that she would inevitably be always young.
The baroness’s arrival created a sensation in Monsieur Glumeau’s salon, for it should be said that none of the guests there assembled had previously met that lady, to whom the Glumeaus had been introduced at a third house, where, delighted with her affability, they had invited her to dine with them.
The master of the house, despite his interesting situation, could not do otherwise than offer the lady his hand to escort her to his wife, who received the baroness with an effusion of cordiality and satisfaction which seemed overdone to some of the guests.
“She is very good-looking,” said Monsieur Dufournelle to his wife, who whispered:
“No! you should say, she has been.”
“But I say yes, she is now; she is a person who still makes conquests, I am sure.”
“Ah! I am glad to hear that, my dear; it makes me think that I shall continue to be attractive for a long time to come.”
“A lovely dress, a very distinguished bearing!” said Monsieur Camuzard to his daughter.
Mademoiselle Polymnie scrutinized it all without winking, and replied simply:
“Her dress is too long-waisted.”