“Monsieur Venot is fully aware that I believe what it is one’s duty to believe.”

It was an act of faith, and even Leonide appeared satisfied.  The young men at the end of the room no longer laughed; the company were old fogies, and amusement was not to be found there.  A cold breath of wind had passed over them, and amid the ensuing silence Steiner’s nasal voice became audible.  The deputy’s discreet answers were at last driving him to desperation.  For a second or two the Countess Sabine looked at the fire; then she resumed the conversation.

“I saw the king of Prussia at Baden-Baden last year.  He’s still full of vigor for his age.”

“Count Bismarck is to accompany him,” said Mme du Joncquoy.  “Do you know the count?  I lunched with him at my brother’s ages ago, when he was representative of Prussia in Paris.  There’s a man now whose latest successes I cannot in the least understand.”

“But why?” asked Mme Chantereau.

“Good gracious, how am I to explain?  He doesn’t please me.  His appearance is boorish and underbred.  Besides, so far as I am concerned, I find him stupid.”

With that the whole room spoke of Count Bismarck, and opinions differed considerably.  Vandeuvres knew him and assured the company that he was great in his cups and at play.  But when the discussion was at its height the door was opened, and Hector de la Falois made his appearance.  Fauchery, who followed in his wake, approached the countess and, bowing: 

“Madame,” he said, “I have not forgotten your extremely kind invitation.”

She smiled and made a pretty little speech.  The journalist, after bowing to the count, stood for some moments in the middle of the drawing room.  He only recognized Steiner and accordingly looked rather out of his element.  But Vandeuvres turned and came and shook hands with him.  And forthwith, in his delight at the meeting and with a sudden desire to be confidential, Fauchery buttonholed him and said in a low voice: 

“It’s tomorrow.  Are you going?”

“Egad, yes.”

“At midnight, at her house.

“I know, I know.  I’m going with Blanche.”

He wanted to escape and return to the ladies in order to urge yet another reason in M. de Bismarck’s favor.  But Fauchery detained him.

“You never will guess whom she has charged me to invite.”

And with a slight nod he indicated Count Muffat, who was just then discussing a knotty point in the budget with Steiner and the deputy.

“It’s impossible,” said Vandeuvres, stupefaction and merriment in his tones.  “My word on it!  I had to swear that I would bring him to her.  Indeed, that’s one of my reasons for coming here.”

Both laughed silently, and Vandeuvres, hurriedly rejoining the circle of ladies, cried out: 

“I declare that on the contrary Monsieur de Bismarck is exceedingly witty.  For instance, one evening he said a charmingly epigrammatic thing in my presence.”