“Absolutely essential. The letter which the illustrious countess has deigned to receive from my hands probably contains a formal order to that effect.”
It was strange to see the proud Countess d’Ahlefeld tremble and turn pale before a servant who paid her such profound respect. She slowly opened the package and read its contents. After a second reading she turned to her women, and said in a faint voice: “Go; leave us alone.”
“I hope the noble lady,” said the messenger, bending his knee, “will deign to pardon the liberty which I venture to take and the trouble which I seem to cause her.”
“On the contrary,” replied the countess, with a forced smile, “I assure you that I am very happy to see you.”
The women withdrew.
“Elphega, have you forgotten that there was a time when you were not averse to being alone with me?”
It was the messenger who addressed the noble countess, and the words were accompanied by a laugh like that uttered by the Devil, at the instant that his compact expires and he seizes the soul which sold itself to him.
The great lady bowed her humbled head.
“Would that I had indeed forgotten it!” she murmured.
“Poor fool! Why should you blush for things which no human eye ever saw?”