"Oh!" exclaimed Valerie, as she hastily rose, flushed with pride, "Madame
la Baronne de Lowicz!"

Seraphine, at this time nine-and-twenty, was red-haired, tall and
elegant, with magnificent shoulders which were known to all Paris. Her
red lips were wreathed in a triumphant smile, and a voluptuous flame ever
shone in her large brown eyes flecked with gold.

"Pray don't disturb yourselves, my friends," said she. "Your servant
wanted to show me into the drawing-room, but I insisted on coming in
here, because it is rather a pressing matter. I have come to fetch your
charming little Reine to take her to a matinee at the Circus."

A fresh explosion of delight ensued. The child remained speechless with
joy, whilst the mother exulted and rattled on: "Oh! Madame la Baronne,
you are really too kind! You are spoiling the child. But the fact is that
she isn't dressed, and you will have to wait a moment. Come, child, make
haste, I will help you--ten minutes, you understand--I won't keep you
waiting a moment longer."

Seraphine remained alone with the two men. She had made a gesture of
surprise on perceiving Mathieu, whose hand, like an old friend, she now
shook.

"And you, are you quite well?" she asked.

"Quite well," he answered; and as she sat down near him he instinctively
pushed his chair back. He did not seem at all pleased at having met her.

He had been on familiar terms with her during his earlier days at the