“You will be quite satisfied on that head,” resumed Madame de Saint Dizier, “if unfortunately the report should gain credit, that you have carried the forgetfulness of all duty and decency, to such a height, as to return home at eight o’clock in the morning.  So I am told is the case but I cannot bring myself to believe such an enormity.”

“You are wrong, madame, for it is quite true.”

“So you confess it?” cried the princess.

“I confess all that I do, madame.  I came home this morning at eight o’clock.”

“You hear Gentlemen?” ejaculated the princess.

“Oh!” said M. d’Aigrigny, in a bass voice.

“Ah!” said the baron, in a treble key.

“Oh!” muttered the doctor, with a deep sigh.

On hearing these lamentable exclamations, Adrienne seemed about to speak, perhaps to justify herself; but her lip speedily assumed a curl of contempt, which showed that she disdained to stoop to any explanation.

“So it is true,” said the princess.  “Oh, wretched girl, you had accustomed me to be astonished at nothing; but, nevertheless, I doubted the possibility of such conduct.  It required your impudent and audacious reply to convince the of the fact.”

“Madame, lying has always appeared to be more impudent than to speak the truth.”

“And where had you been, madame? and for what?”

“Madame,” said Adrienne, interrupting her aunt, “I never speak false—­but neither do I speak more than I choose; and then again, it were cowardice to defend myself from a revolting accusation.  Let us say no more about it:  your importunities on this head will be altogether vain.  To resume:  you wish to impose upon me a harsh and humiliating restraint; I wish to quit the house I inhabit, to go and live where I please, at my own fancy.  Which of us two will yield, remains to be seen.  Now for another matter:  this mansion belongs to me!  As I am about to leave it, I am indifferent whether you continue to live here or not; but the ground floor is uninhabited.  It contains, besides the reception-rooms, two complete sets of apartments; I have let them for some time.”

“Indeed!” said the princess, looking at D’Aigrigny with intense surprise.  “And to whom,” she added ironically, “have you disposed of them?”

“To three members of my family.”

“What does all this mean?” said Mme. de Saint-Dizier, more and more astonished.

“It means, madame, that I wish to offer a generous hospitality to a young Indian prince, my kinsman on my mother’s side.  He will arrive in two or three days, and I wish to have the rooms ready to receive him.”

“You hear, gentlemen?” said D’Aigrigny to the doctor and Tripeaud, with an affectation of profound stupor.

“It surpasses all one could imagine!” exclaimed the baron.

“Alas!” observed the doctor, benignantly, “the impulse is generous in itself—­but the mad little head crops out?”