see and be seen, will understand that the presence
of Mdlle. de Cardoville on that brilliant promenade was an extraordinary
and interesting event.

The world (as it is called) could hardly believe its eyes, on seeing
this lady of eighteen, possessed of princely wealth, and belonging to
the highest nobility, thus prove to every one, by this appearance in
public, that she was living completely free and independent, contrary to
all custom and received notions of propriety. This kind of emancipation
appeared something monstrous, and people were almost astonished that
the graceful and dignified bearing of the young lady should belie so
completely the calumnies circulated by Madame de Saint-Dizier and her
friends, with regard to the pretended madness of her niece. Many beaux,
profiting by their acquaintance with the Marchioness de Morinval or M.
de Montbron, came by turns to pay their respects, and rode for a few
minutes by the side of the carriage, so as to have an opportunity
of seeing, admiring, and perhaps hearing, Mdlle. de Cardoville; she
surpassed their expectations, by talking with her usual grace and
spirit. Then surprise and enthusiasm knew no bounds. What had at first
been blamed as an almost insane caprice, was now voted a charming
originality, and it only depended on Mdlle. de Cardoville herself, to be
declared from that day the queen of elegance and fashion. The young lady
understood very well the impression she had made; she felt proud and
happy, for she thought of Djalma; when she compared him to all these
men of fashion, her happiness was the more increased. And, verily, these
young men, most of whom had never quitted Paris, or had ventured at most
as far as Naples or Baden, looked insignificant enough by the side of
Djalma, who, at his age, had so many times commanded and combated in
bloody wars, and whose reputation far courage and generosity, mentioned
by travellers with admiration, had already reached from India to Paris.
And then, how could these charming exquisites, with their small hats,
their scanty frock-coats, and their huge cravats, compare with the
Indian prince, whose graceful and manly beauty was still heightened by
the splendor of a costume, at once so rich and so picturesque?

On this happy day, all was joy and love for Adrienne. The sun, setting
in a splendidly serene sky, flooded the promenade with its golden light.
The air was warm. Carriages and horsemen passed and repassed in rapid
succ