"
"Delphine, I am waiting."
"Ah, well. You have mentioned Vienna, and why? Liberals are countenanced
there?"
"Not in the least. But Madame l'Ambassadrice will be countenanced."
"I do not know her."
"We are not apt to know ourselves."
"Monsieur, how idle are these cross-purposes!" she said, folding her
fan.
"Delphine," I continued, taking the fan, "tell me frankly which of these
two men you prefer,--the Marquis or his Excellency."
"The Marquis? He is antiphlogistic,--he is ice. Why should I freeze
myself? I am frozen now,--I need fire!"
Her eyes burned as she spoke, and a faint red flushed her cheek.
"Mademoiselle, you demonstrate to me that life has yet a value to you."
"I find no fire," she said, as the flush fell away.
"The Baron?"
"I do not affect him."
"You will conquer your prejudice in Vienna."
"I do not comprehend you, Monsieur;--you speak in riddles, which I do
not like."
"I will speak plainer. But first let me ask you for the diamond."
"The diamond? It is yours? How am I certified of it? I find it on the
floor; you say it was in my mother's _saliere_; it is her affair, not
mine. No, Monsieur, I do not see that the thing is yours."
Certainly there was nothing to be done but to relate the story, which I
did, carefully omitting the Baron's name. At its conclusion, she placed
the prize in my hand.
"Pardon, Monsieur," she said; "without doubt you should receive it. And
this agent of the government,--one could turn him like hot iron in this
vice,--who was he?"
"The Baron Stahl.
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