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Updated: May 13, 2025
"Then, let us make a compact of peace," said Zibeline, holding out her hand in the English fashion. With these words she left the room on the arm of the Duke, who claimed the honor of escorting her to her carriage. "Shall you go to the opera also?" asked the Duchess of her brother. "Yes, but later. I shall dine in town." "Then-au-revoir this evening!" "This evening!"
"So now we see Zibeline fairly launched," remarked the banker. "Since the Duchesse de Montgeron has taken her up, all the naughty tales that have been fabricated about her will go to pieces like a house of cards." "That is very probable," the General concluded, "for she has made a complete conquest of my sister." At these words a slight cloud passed over the actress's face.
From the place she was to obliged to take in the arrangement of the scene, the apostrophe and the gestures of the actress appeared to be unconsciously directed toward Mademoiselle de Vermont, who could not restrain a startled movement. "Look! One would think that Zibeline took that allusion for herself," said Madame Desvanneaux, whom nothing escaped.
The door of the large, right-hand box opened, and Zibeline appeared, accompanied by the Chevalier de Sainte-Foy, an elderly gallant, carefully dressed and wearing many decorations, and whose respectable tale of years could give no occasion for malicious comment on his appearance in the role of 'cavalier servente'. Having assisted his companion to remove her mantle, he profited by the instant of time she took to settle her slightly ruffled plumage before the mirror, to lay upon the railing of the box her bouquet and her lorgnette.
Longing for fresh air and exercise, Henri went out after dinner, walked through the Champs-Elysees, and traversed the crossing at l'Etoile, in order to approach the spot where Zibeline lay ill.
However, after the next act she made a sign to M. Durand. That gentleman rejoined the Baron de Samoreau in the corridor and took him to meet Zibeline, and a sort of council appeared to be going on in the rear of her box. "What the deuce can she be talking about to them?" said Desvanneaux to his wife. "A new offer of marriage, probably.
"You will make Mademoiselle de Vermont quite impossible. If you go on thus, she will take herself seriously as a divinity!" "Fortunately," rejoined Zibeline, "you are there, General, to remind me that I am only a mortal, as Philippe's freedman reminded his master every morning." "You can not complain!
He had been perfectly well aware of the gaze of Mademoiselle de Vermont, but whether he still cherished a slight resentment against the lady, or whether her appearance really displeased him, he cut the conversation short and went to pay his respects to the occupants of several boxes. Evidently Zibeline knew few persons in society, for no visitor appeared in her box.
"You have not yet said 'good-evening' to Mademoiselle de Vermont, Henri," said the Duchess to her brother, and he changed his place in order to act upon her hint. "Ah, is it you, General?" said Zibeline, affecting not to have seen him until that moment. "It seems that music interests you less than comedy." "What has made you form that opinion, Mademoiselle?"
As the curtain fell on this act the spectators turned their backs to the footlights, and Lenaieff, indicating Zibeline to his friend, said in his slightly Slavonic accent: "Who is that pretty woman, my dear Henri?" "One of Jules Verne's personages, a product of the land of furs." "Do you know her?" "Not at all. I have a prejudice against girls that are too rich. Why do you ask?"
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