Here it was that the Marquis de Prerolles appeared in the evening after his experience at the skating-pond.  He had dressed, and had dined in great haste at a restaurant near the theatre.

The posters announced a revival of ‘Adrienne Lecouvreur’, with Mademoiselle Gontier in the principal role, in which she was to appear for the first time.

Eugenie Gontier was, it was said, the natural daughter of a great foreign lord, who had bequeathed to her a certain amount of money.  Therefore, she had chosen the theatrical life less from necessity than from inclination.

She was distinguished in presence, a great favorite with the public, and had a wide circle of friends, among whom a rich banker, the Baron de Samoreau, greatly devoted to her, had made for her investments sufficiently profitable to enable her to occupy a mansion of her own, and to open a salon which became a favorite rendezvous with many persons distinguished in artistic, financial, and even political circles.  Talent being the guaranty of good companionship, this salon became much frequented, and General de Prerolles had become one of its most assiduous visitors.

The first act had begun.  Although the charming artist was not to appear until the second act, she had already descended from her dressing-room, and, finding herself alone in the greenroom, was putting a final touch to her coiffure before the mirror when the General entered.

He kissed her hand gallantly, and both seated themselves in a retired corner between the fireplace and the window.

“I thank you for coming so early,” said Eugenie.  “I wished very much to see you to-night, in order to draw from your eyes a little of your courage before I must face the footlights in a role so difficult and so superb.”

“The fire of the footlights is not that of the enemy—­above all, for you, who are so sure of winning the battle.”

“Alas! does one ever know?  Although at the last rehearsal Monsieur Legouve assured me that all was perfect, look up there at that portrait of Rachel, and judge for yourself whether I have not reason to tremble at my audacity in attempting this role after such a predecessor.”

“But you yourself caused this play to be revived,” said Henri.

“I did it because of you,” Eugenie replied.

“Of me?”

“Yes.  Am I not your Adrienne, and is not Maurice de Saxe as intrepid as you, and as prodigal as you have been?  Was he not dispossessed of his duchy of Courlande, as you were of your—­”

A gesture from Henri prevented her from finishing the sentence.

“Pardon me!” said she.  “I had forgotten how painful to you is any reference to that matter.  We will speak only of your present renown, and of the current of mutual sympathy that attracts each of us toward the other.  For myself, that attraction began on the fourteenth of last July.  You had just arrived at Paris, and a morning journal, in mentioning the troops, and the names of the generals who appeared at the review, related, apropos of your military exploits, many exciting details of your escape during the war.  Do you recall the applause that greeted you when you marched past the tribunes?  I saw you then for the first time, but I should have known you among a thousand!  The next day—­”