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Updated: June 18, 2025
The young mistress of the house was seated on one side, between the Duc de Montgeron and the Marquis de Prerolles. Facing her sat the Duchesse de Montgeron, between General Lenaieff and the Chevalier de Sainte-Foy.
"It is Mademoiselle de Vermont, then, who inspires you with this apprehension," said the General, smiling. "Well, yes, it is she!" "What childishness! Lenaieff will tell you that I have never even looked at her." "Last night, perhaps but to-day?" "We exchanged no more than a dozen words." "But the more I think of her visit to the greenroom, the more inexplicable it appears to me."
"In that case I regret my complicity still less," said Lenaieff, "for otherwise I should have lost an excellent friend, and, had Prerolles been shot, he never could have made me acquainted with the delicious Mademoiselle de Vermont!" "Ah! So that is what you are thinking of?" Henri said to himself.
But he sat immovable, as did also Edmond Delorme, because of the lack of partners; and, not wishing to take the second place after Lenaieff, his rival, he would not for the world abandon his role of spectator, unless some one forced him to it. "Suppose we have a cotillon figure, in order to change partners?" said Valentine suddenly, during a pause, after she had thanked her partner.
The order for the mobilizing of his own division having been received and transmitted, Henri's evening was his own, and he resolved to pass it with Lenaieff, feeling certain that his colleague at least would speak to him of Zibeline. The aide-de-camp general lived at the Hotel Continental, much frequented by Russians of distinction.
I need no more escort than two cavalrymen for General Lenaieff and myself. Now I am ready, Mademoiselle," Henri continued, turning toward Valentine. "If you will be guided by me, we should do well to reach the fortifications by way of the Lake of Saint-Mande."
And saluting Mademoiselle de Vermont courteously, he went his way. "Now you are free, Henri. Suppose we accompany Mademoiselle back to Paris?" suggested Lenaieff, seeming to read his friend's mind. "What an honor for me!" Valentine exclaimed. The General made a sign to his orderly, who approached to receive his instructions. "Tell the brigadier-generals that I am about to depart.
Then, fearing that he had said too much, he added: "I, and many others!" "Good! You were almost making a pretty speech to me, but, as usual, the disavowal was not slow in coming. Fortunately, here comes your friend Lenaieff, who is hastening to make amends to me."
The more clearly Henri divined the thoughts of his sister, the more he affected to remain insensible to the natural seductions of his neighbor, to whom Lenaieff, on the contrary, addressed continually, in his soft and caressing voice, compliments upon compliments and madrigals upon madrigals! "Take care, my dear Constantin!" said Henri to him, bluntly.
A quarter of an hour later all three were seated at a table in the Cafe Anglais. "I present to you General Lenaieff," said Henri to his guest. "You should be more incensed against him than against me, for, if he had done his duty, you would probably have had me imprisoned again." "Not imprisoned shot!" the Captain replied, with conviction.
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