ointed to a _jardiniere_, saying: "You are fond of hyacinths and
tuberoses; their perfume overpowered me for a moment. I fear you think
me very effeminate."

She replied in a caressing voice: "I take you for a most worthy man
who has terrible nerves; but you know by experience that if you have
weaknesses I have salts. Will you have my smelling-bottle?"

"You are a thousand times too good," he rejoined, and bravely marched
forward to face the danger. It is a well-known fact that dangers in a
silken robe are the most formidable of all.

Mme. de Lorcy presented him to the princess, who raised her chin to
examine him with her little glittering eyes. It seemed to him that those
gray orbs directed at him were two balls, which struck him in the heart;
he quivered from head to foot and asked himself confusedly whether he
were dead or living. He soon perceived that he was still living; the
princess had remained impassible--not a muscle of her face had moved.
She ended by bestowing upon Samuel a smile that was almost gracious,
and addressing to him some insignificant words, which he only half
understood, but which seemed to him exquisite--delicious. He fancied
that she was saying to him: "You have a chance, you were born lucky;
my sight has been impaired for some years, and I do not recognise you.
Bless your star, you are saved!" He experienced such a transport of joy
that he could have flung his arms about the neck of Abbe Miollens, who
came up to him with extended hand, saying:

"What have you been thinking about, my dear count? Since we last met a
very great event has been accomplished. What woman wishes, God wishes;
but, after all, my own humble efforts were not without avail, and I am
proud of it."

Mme. de Lorcy requested Count Larinski to offer his arm to Princess
Gulof and lead her out to dinner. He mechanically complied; but he had
not the strength to utter a syllable as he conducted the princess to
table. She herself said nothing; she seemed wholly busied in arranging
with her unoccupied hand a lock of her gray hair, which had strayed
too far over her forehead. He looked fixedly at this short, plump hand,
which one day in a fit of jealous fury had administered to him two smart
blows; his cheeks recognised it.

During dinner the princess was very gay: she paid more attention to Abbe
Miollens than to Count Larinski; she took pleasure in teasing the good
priest--in endeavouring to shock him a little. It was not easy