“Very naturally.  The gates had not been closed behind your carriage, sir, when the young lady rang the bell.  They went up to see what she wanted, and she ordered the landau to be brought round.  She was told very respectfully, that all three coachmen were out, and that there was no one there to drive her.  ‘If that be so,’ she answered, ’I want you to run and get me a hired carriage.’  And, when the servant to whom she gave the order hesitated, she added, ’If you do not go instantly, I shall go myself.’”

The count trembled with rage.

“And then?” he asked, seeing that the man was hesitating.

“Then the servant was frightened, and did what she wanted.”

“He is dismissed, the fool!” exclaimed Count Ville-Handry.

“But allow me to say,” commenced Ernest.

“No!  Let his wages be paid.  And you go on.”

Without showing any embarrassment, the valet shrugged his shoulders, and continued in a lazy tone,—­

“Then the hack came into the court-yard; and we saw the young lady come down in a splendid toilet, such as we have never seen her wear before,—­not pretty exactly, but so conspicuous, that it must have attracted everybody’s attention.  She settled herself coolly on the cushions, while we looked at her, utterly amazed; and, when she was ready, she said, ’Ernest, you will tell my father that I shall not be back for breakfast.  I have a good many visits to make; and, as the weather is fine, I shall afterwards go to the Bois de Boulogne.’  Thereupon the gates were opened, and off they went.  It was then that I took the liberty to send you word, sir.”

In all his life Count Ville-Handry had not been so furious.  The veins in his neck began to swell; and his eyes became bloodshot, as if he had been threatened with a fit of apoplexy.

“You ought to have kept her from going out,” he said hoarsely.  “Why did you not prevent her?  You ought to have made her go back to her room, use force if necessary, lock her up, bind her.”

“You had given no orders, sir.”

“You ought to have required no orders to do your duty.  To let a mad woman run about! an impudent girl whom I caught the other day in the garden with a man!”

He cried out so loud, that his voice was heard in the adjoining room, where the invited guests were beginning to assemble.  The unhappy man!  He disgraced his own child.  The young countess at once came up to him and said,—­

“I beseech you, my dear friend, be calm!”

“No, this must end; and I mean to punish the wicked girl.”

“I beseech you, my dear count, do not destroy the happiness of the first day of our married life.  Henrietta is only a child; she did not know what she was doing.”

Mrs. Brian was not of the same opinion.  She declared,—­

“The count is right.  The conduct of this young lady is perfectly shocking.”

Then Sir Thorn interrupted her, saying,—­