Yet young, immensely rich, volatile and handsome, it was probable that the Duke would not look in vain for some one to console him for the severity of his Duchess. Like many other persons in Paris, the Duke lived _en garçon_ with two houses, two establishments, and, morally speaking, two wives. His second wife was a celebrated _danseuse_ of the Royal Academy of Music, Mlle. G., known as a very agreeably thin woman, and arms rather larger than the true academic proportions--which, however, enabled her to entwine her partner, with an _undulous grace_ that highly excited the old _habitués_ of the opera. The reign of Louis XVIII. was also emphatically the reign of the _danseuses_. Princes, marshals, generals, and nobles, selected their mistresses in the _seraglio_ of the opera. The reign of these ladies was, however, almost _emphyteotic_, that is to say, permanent, and often resulted in the consecration of illegitimate pleasures. MM. de Lauraguais, de Conti, de Letoriers, and others, would have laughed at this. The external life of the Duke was full of attention to the Duchess, with whom he dined regularly. He never, however, breakfasted at the embassy, nor was he there except at his regular receptions. The pious people who had been so shocked at his marriage, took care to say that the Duchess's conduct was the sole cause of her husband's misbehavior. There was nothing, though, in the world to sustain this; for no one had the slightest idea of the secret _liaison_ of Monte-Leone and the embassadress. That was a transient affair, and the shores of the _Lago di Como_ alone had been witnesses of it. Some excuse, however, was indispensably necessary for him.
La Felina, as isolated as ever, then sat in a beautiful garden which overlooked the _Champs Elysées_, on the morning we have described. Her face was pale and wearied, and her eyes red from want of sleep. With her head resting on her chest, she seemed a prey to the greatest sorrow. Just then they came to tell her of the visit of Taddeo Rovero.
"At last," said she, gladly, "I will know all."
Taddeo was close behind the servant who had announced him. He could not repress his surprise, when he saw how changed the Duchess was. The latter saw it and said, "You did not expect, signor, to see an old and ugly woman instead of her you once thought, so beautiful. I have, however, suffered a great deal during the three months you have been away. Without meaning to reproach you, let me say it is three months since I saw you."