Her daughter threw her arms around her neck—­“Nothing!” she said.

Another time Madame de Tecle detected her speaking of M. de Camors in a tone of bitter irony.  He was “the great man”—­“the mysterious personage”—­“the star of the neighborhood”—­“the phoenix of guests in their woods”—­or simply “the Prince!”

Such symptoms were of so serious a nature as not to escape Madame de Tecle.

In presence of “the Prince,” it is true, the young girl lost her gayety; but this was another cross.  Her mother found her cold, awkward, and silent—­brief, and slightly caustic in her replies.  She feared M. de Camors would misjudge her from such appearances.

But Camors formed no judgment, good or bad; Mademoiselle de Tecle was for him only an insignificant little girl, whom he never thought of for a moment in the year.

There was, however, at this time in society a person who did interest him very much, and the more because against his will.  This was the Marquise de Campvallon, nee de Luc d’Estrelles.

The General, after making the tour of Europe with his young wife, had taken possession of his hotel in the Rue Vanneau, where he lived in great splendor.  They resided at Paris during the winter and spring, but in July returned to their chateau at Campvallon, where they entertained in great state until the autumn.  The General invited Madame de Tecle and her daughter, every year, to pass some weeks at Campvallon, rightly judging that he could not give his young wife better companions.  Madame de Tecle accepted these invitations cheerfully, because it gave her an opportunity of seeing the elite of the Parisian world, from whom the whims of her uncle had always isolated her.  For her own part, she did not much enjoy it; but her daughter, by moving in the midst of such fashion and elegance could thus efface some provincialisms of toilet or of language; perfect her taste in the delicate and fleeting changes of the prevailing modes, and acquire some additional graces.  The young Marquise, who reigned and scintillated like a bright star in these high regions of social life, lent herself to the designs of her neighbor.  She seemed to take a kind of maternal interest in Mademoiselle de Tecle, and frequently added her advice to her example.  She assisted at her toilet and gave the final touches with her own dainty hands; and the young girl, in return, loved, admired, and confided in her.

Camors also enjoyed the hospitalities of the General once every season, but was not his guest as often as he wished.  He seldom remained at Campvallon longer than a week.  Since the return of the Marquise to France he had resumed the relations of a kinsman and friend with her husband and herself; but, while trying to adopt the most natural manner, he treated them both with a certain reserve, which astonished the General.  It will not surprise the reader, who recollects the secret and powerful reasons which justified this circumspection.