“Excellent!” said the princes.  “I cannot prevent you madame, from announcing the most extravagant designs but it is presumable that you will not stop short in so fair a path.  Is that all?”

“Not quite, your highness.  I learned this morning, that two of my female relations, also on my mother’s side—­poor children of fifteen—­orphan daughters of Marshal Simon arrived yesterday from a long journey, and are now with the wife of the brave soldier who brought them to France from the depths of Siberia.”

At these words from Adrienne, D’Aigrigny and the princess could not help starting suddenly, and staring at each other with affright, so far were they from expecting that Mdlle. de Cardoville was informed of the coming of Marshal Simon’s daughters.  This discovery was like a thunder-clap to them.

“You are no doubt astonished at seeing me so well informed,” said Adrienne; “fortunately, before I have done, I hope to astonish you still more.  But to return to these daughters of Marshal Simon:  your highness will understand, that it is impossible for me to leave them in charge of the good people who have afforded them a temporary asylum.  Though this family is honest, and hard-working, it is not the place for them.  I shall go and fetch them hither, and lodge them in apartments on the ground-floor, along with the soldier’s wife, who will do very well to take care of them.”

Upon these words, D’Aigrigny and the baron looked at each other, and the baron exclaimed:  “Decidedly, she’s out of her head.”

Without a word to Tripeaud, Adrienne continued:  “Marshal Simon cannot fail to arrive at Paris shortly.  Your highness perceives how pleasant it will he, to be able to present his daughters to him, and prove that they have been treated as they deserve.  To-morrow morning I shall send for milliners and mantua makers, so that they may want for nothing.  I desire their surprised father, on his return, to find them every way beautiful.  They are pretty, I am told, as angels—­but I will endeavor to make little Cupids of them.”

“At last, madame, you must have finished?” said the princess, in a sardonic and deeply irritated tone, whilst D’Aigrigny, calm and cold in appearance, could hardly dissemble his mental anguish.

“Try again!” continued the princess, addressing Adrienne.  “Are there no more relations that you wish to add to this interesting family-group?  Really a queen could not act with more magnificence.”

“Right!  I wish to give my family a royal reception—­such as is due to the son of a king, and the daughters of the Duke de Ligny.  It is well to unite other luxuries of life with the luxury of the hospitable heart.”

“The maxim is assuredly generous,” said the princess, becoming more and more agitated; “it is only a pity that you do not possess the mines of El Dorado to make it practicable.”

“It was on the subject of a mine, said to be a rich one, that I also wished to speak to your highness.  Could I find a better opportunity?  Though my fortune is already considerable, it is nothing to what may come to our family at any moment.  You will perhaps excuse, therefore, what you are pleased to call my royal prodigalities.”