Count Albert watched her from the neighbouring room where he was waiting.
His face was of a livid pallor. His heart beat so fast that he felt weak,
and was forced to sit down. He was out of his senses. All the frenzy of
youth, repressed so long, mounted in a wave to his brain.
Marguerite, coming to dress her mistress, announced that the gentlemen
were waiting. She quickly threw on a cloak, saying, "I am ready."
Mounet-Sully and Count Albert entered together. The Count offered his
arm to the old Mademoiselle, and Esperance, free of the contact that
disturbed her, joyfully accepted the tragedian's assistance.
The supper was charming, and proved to the young girl that the feasts
of artists and men of the world do not end in the orgies described by
the odious godfather. The young girl was at the right of the Prince
with Mounet-Sully opposite, at the right of the Princess. None of the
guests could help noticing the Count's agitation. The Military Aide,
representing King Leopold, Baron von Berger, was an old friend of the
Styvens's family. He was uneasy, and when he saw the young Count
preparing to take the ladies home, "No, no, my boy," he said to him in
a low tone, "You are not yourself--you are distraught. I am afraid
that you have been hard hit."
"You are not mistaken," replied the young man, "I burn like a devil,
and at the same time I am as happy as a god."
"Well, now I am going to escort these ladies, and to-morrow I will
have a talk with you.
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