DECISION
"Never, never shall I have the courage to receive M. and Madame de
Brévannes," exclaimed the princess with despair, "for----"
The voice of the prince interrupted Paula.
Her salon was separated from the other apartments by a long gallery
similar to that which De Hansfeld occupied on the upper story.
Velvet hangings supplied the place of doors, and Paula heard her
husband's voice as he inquired of the valet-de-chambre, who was waiting
at the extremity of the gallery, if the princess were there.
"It is the prince!" exclaimed Iris.
"He is going to meet this young lady," said Paula: "both of them
ignorant that M. de Brévannes is cognisant of their love, and with a
horrid calculation will feign to be ignorant of that love. Oh! it is
horrible to leave them in this blind, this fatal confidence!"
Iris said quickly,--
"Will you spare these two unfortunates, and renounce M. de Morville? Be
it so, by and by, at the moment when M. de Brévannes leaves the hotel,
I will find some means of speaking to him, and in two words I will
disclose to him the trickery of the Black Book."
Paula started.
"Is not that what you wish, godmother?"
"Yes, yes!"
"Still, should you desire by any chance to change this wish; if you will
profit by the events which this meeting of the prince and Bertha at your
house must still further precipitate, unless you oppose it, when you see
me rising to go out and await M. de Brévannes, give me this pin,
telling me to put it up--I shall understand that M. de Brévannes is to
remain in his error."
"But----"
"Here is the prince. Give me this pin presently, and within a week you
are free: otherwise, renounce M. de Morville for ever."
M. de Hansfeld entered his wife's apartment at this moment.
Iris was in the habit of remaining with her mistress, even when she
received visits. Her presence at the following scene appeared therefore
perfectly natural to the prince.