[Signed] "Susanne d'Alzette."
"Either," I cried out, in uncontrollable excitement—"either that girl is mad or she is the cleverest woman on earth."
After a moment I added:
"In either event I am going to marry her."
XI[ToC]
That evening, a few minutes before nine o'clock, I descended from a cab in front of No. 8 Rue d'Alouette, and was ushered into a pretty reception-room by an irreproachable servant, who disappeared directly with my card.
In a few moments the young Countess came in, exquisite in her silvery dinner-gown, eyes bright, white arms extended in a charming, impulsive welcome. The touch of her silky fingers thrilled me; I was dumb under the enchantment of her beauty; and I think she understood my silence, for her blue eyes became troubled and the happy parting of her lips changed to a pensive curve.