She blushed when she heard the name of the Duke,
Albert Styvens was presenting to her. She thanked them both very
prettily, but without showing any preference for either. The Duke
began complimentary speeches without making any impression. When they
took leave, he wanted to kiss Esperance's hand, but she withdrew it
looking very much surprised. This rather confused the Duke. As soon as
these gentlemen departed I was presented, and her manner was just as
charming. Jean Perliez came in just then to tell her that the curtain
would go up in three minutes. He brought her a bunch of Parma violets,
and she took them from him and put them in her girdle; you will see
her wearing them on the stage. Perliez is desperately in love with
her, and he grew very pale. He went out without a word. I think he
must have gone to cry out his emotion in a corner. That is all,"
concluded the rising journalist.
He repeated his story twenty times, and by next morning all Paris knew
that the Duke de Morlay-La-Branche had been received by Esperance like
any other gentleman, that Count Albert Styvens had been noncommittal,
and that Jean Perliez had been overcome. The young journalist wrote a
very suggestive article concerning this little scene, highly
ornamented with phrases that would attract attention; but
unfortunately the editor refused to print it. The Duke did not care
for notoriety, and was, moreover, a renowned fencer, so the editor
exercised his discretion.
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