“I mean the ball at the Opera; but I beg pardon, I should not have mentioned it.”
“Really, brother, you puzzle me; I know nothing about the ball at the Opera.”
The words “ball” and “Opera” caught Jeanne’s ear, and she listened intently.
“But, count, I insist on knowing what it means.”
“No, sister; but I have said quite enough for you to understand.”
“Not here,” said he, looking at the others.
“Yes, here; there cannot be too many at such an explanation.”
“Then you mean to say you were not at the last ball?”
“I!” cried the queen, “at the ball at the Opera?”
“No, I will not hush; I will speak it aloud. You say I was at the ball?”
“Perhaps you saw me?” she said ironically.
“Oh, it is too much! Why did you not speak to me?”
“Ma foi! I was just going to do so, when the crowd separated us.”
“I should not have spoken of it. I have been very foolish.”
The queen rose, and walked up and down the room in great agitation.
Andrée trembled with fear and disquietude, and Jeanne could hardly keep from laughing.
“My friend, do not jest any more; you see, I am so passionate that I have lost my temper already. Tell me at once that you were joking with me.”
“Be serious, Charles. You have invented all this, have you not?”
He winked at the ladies, and said, “Oh, yes, of course.”
“You do not understand me, brother!” cried the queen vehemently. “Say yes or no. Do not tell falsehoods; I only want the truth!”
“Well, then, sister,” said he, in a low voice, “I have told the truth, but I am sorry I spoke.”
“As plain as I see you now; and you saw me.”
The queen uttered a cry, and, running up to Andrée and Jeanne, cried, “Ladies, M. le Comte d’Artois affirms that he saw me at the ball at the Opera; let him prove it.”
“Well,” said he, “I was with M. de Richelieu and others, when your mask fell off.”
“I was about to say, ‘This is too rash, sister,’ but the gentleman with you drew you away so quickly.”
“Oh, mon Dieu! you will drive me mad! What gentleman?”
“Saturday. The next day I set off to hunt, before you were up.”
“Oh, it is I. It is all a mistake. Do not be so afraid; there is no harm done. At first I thought you were with the king; but the blue domino spoke German, and he does not.”
“Well, brother, on Saturday I went to bed at eleven.”