"So! From whom?"
"I learnt it from the Vicomte d'Humières."
"The Vicomte d'Humières! My husband! Are you acquainted with him, then?"
"I can scarcely claim to be acquainted with the Vicomte. It seems, Madame, that this has been a morning of coincidences. It would appear that just before Madame perceived my little picture at the Academy, the Vicomte d'Humières perceived it too."
"Truly! But how magnificent!"
The lady clasped her hands in a little ecstacy.
"The Vicomte d'Humières did not seem to consider it magnificent. He took a distinctly contrary view."
"But that is certain!"
"He requested me to furnish him with your address. When I informed him that I was not acquainted with Madame, he desired to know who had authorized me to send your portrait to a public exhibition. I observed that I was not aware that it was the portrait of Madame, since the face in the picture was but the study of a face which I had seen in a dream."
"In a dream! You did not tell him--the little history?"