towards them. Madame de Flaracourt appeared very
gracious: I replied to her advances with due politeness, and instead
of separating, we continued to walk about together. Madame de Bearn
saw clearly that chance was not the sole cause of this meeting: she
dissembled as well as she could. I afterwards learnt that she owed me a
spite, particularly for the mystery which I had made of this occurrence.
The marked silence, and the sullen air she assumed during this
interview, and which her sense and knowledge of the world should have
prevented her from manifesting, proved to me, on this occasion, as on
many other others, that temper cannot always be conquered, and that at
times it will burst forth in spite of the experience and caution of the
courtier.

I did not give myself much trouble on this subject: I had well
recompensed the good offices of the countess: I had ample proof that in
serving me she had acted on the impulse of self-interest: we were quits,
I thought, and I saw no reason why I should remain isolated just to
serve her pleasure.

When we returned to my apartments I saw plainly, by her mutterings, her
sighs, and the shrugging of her shoulders, that she was deeply
irritated at what had just taken place. She was desirous of provoking
an explanation, but as that could only tend to her disadvantage, she
contented herself with leaving me earlier than her usual want, without
saying anything disagreeable. Her custom was not to leave me alone, and
her abrupt departure confirmed me in the idea I had imbibed, that this
sort of comedy had much thwarted her.

In the course of the same day I received a visit from the comtesse
de Flaracourt. This lady, whose sparkling eyes shone with an air of
mischief, presented herself to me with an appearance of openness and
confidence which completely cloaked the malignity and treachery of
her character. She threw her arms round my neck with as much grace as
tenderness, and taking my hand, as if to arrest my attention, said:

"I ought, madame, to explain to you the delay that I have made before
I introduce myself to you, as well as the promptitude of this my first
visit. I was prejudiced against you, and had formed a false estimate of
you. My _liaison_ with mesdames d'Egmont, de Brionne, and de Grammont
naturally placed me in the rank opposed to you: so much for what has
passed. But I have seen you: I have studied you at a distance, as well
as close, and I have recognised, without diffi