en
over-bold; he only seemed to surround her with his presence. But she was
afraid of herself, her opinion coinciding with that of the young man,
who, being an experienced general in such matters, had classed her
at once as one of the 'open towns.' It was his name for the sort of
fashionable women who, in spite of a high and apparently unassailable
position, in spite of a great apparatus of defences in every direction,
are in reality to be carried by a bold attack. He did not intend now
to make the regular assault, but only a smart approach or so of warm
flirtation, sufficient to set a mark upon his prey without hurting her
dignity, and to signify the final expropriation of the deceased. The
marriage and the million would follow in due time. Such was the happy
dream which Madame Astier had interrupted. He was pursuing it still,
at the same desk and in the same contemplative attitude, when the whole
house resounded with another ring at the bell, followed however only by
conversation at the front door. 'What is it?' said Paul impatiently, as
he came out.

The voice of a footman, whose tall black figure was conspicuous in the
doorway against a background of splashing rain, answered from the steps,
with respectful insolence, that my lady was waiting for him in the
carriage. Paul, though choking with rage, managed to get out the words,
'I am coming,' But what horrid curses he muttered under his breath! The
dead fellow again! Sure enough, it was the remembrance of him that had
kept her away. But after a few seconds the hope of avenging himself
before long in a highly amusing way enabled him so far to recover
countenance, that when he joined the Princess he was as cool as ever,
and showed nothing of his anger but a little extra paleness in the
cheek.

It was warm in the brougham, the windows having been put up because of
the shower. Huge bouquets of violets and wreaths as heavy as pies loaded
the cushions round Madame de Rosen and filled her lap.

'Are the flowers unpleasant? Shall I put the window down?' said she,
with the cajoling manner which a woman puts on when she has played you a
trick and wants not to have a quarrel over it. Paul's gesture expressed
a dignified indifference. It was nothing to him whether the window was
put down or put up. The Princess, whose deep veil, still worn on
such occasions as the present, concealed a blooming face, felt more
uncomfortable than if he had reproached her openly. Poor young man!