“I do not mean to say that the count would not be wrong if he attributed your frequent visits exclusively to his own merits.  I have heard something of a certain young lady”—­

“Sarah,” here broke in Mrs. Brian, “what you say there is highly improper.”  This reproof, so far from checking Miss Sarah’s merriment, only seemed to increase it.  Without losing sight of Daniel, she turned to her aunt, and said,—­

“Since the count is not opposed to this gentleman’s paying his attentions to his daughter, I think I may safely speak of them.  It would be such an extraordinary thing, if any thing should happen to interfere with his hopes!”

Daniel, who had blushed all over, suddenly became deadly pale.  After all that he had been told, these words sounded to him, in spite of the loud laugh that accompanied them, like a warning and a threat.  But he was not allowed the time to reflect.  The piece was coming to an end; Miss Brandon was drawing a fur cloak over her shoulders, and left on the count’s arm; while he had to escort Mrs. Brian, being closely followed by tall, stiff Sir Thorn.  The landau was at the door.  The servants had let down the steps; and Miss Sarah was just getting in.  Suddenly, as her foot touched the bottom of the carriage, she drew back, and cried out,—­

“What is that?  What is in there?”

The count came forward, looking visibly embarrassed.

“You are fond of roses,” he said, “and I have ordered a few.”

With these words he took up some of the leaves, and showed them to her.  But immediately Miss Brandon’s terror was changed into wrath.

“You certainly are bent upon making me angry,” she said.  “You want people to say everywhere that I make you commit all kinds of follies.  What a glorious thing to waste fifty dollars on flowers, when one has I know not how many millions!”

Then, seeing by the light of the street-lamp that the count’s face showed deep disappointment, she said in a tone to make him lose the little reason that was left him,—­

“You would have been more welcome if you had brought me a cent’s worth of violets.”

In the mean time Mrs. Brian had taken her seat by Miss Brandon’s side; Sir Thorn had gotten in; and it was now the count’s turn.  At the moment when the servant was closing the door, Miss Sarah bent forward toward Daniel, and said,—­

“I hope I shall have the pleasure of soon seeing you again.  Our dear count will give you my address, and tell you my reception-days.  I must tell you that we American girls dote upon naval officers, and that I”—­

The remainder was lost in the noise of the wheels.  The carriage which took Miss Brandon and Count Ville-Handry away was already at some distance, before Daniel could recover from his amazement, his utter consternation.

All these strange events, coming upon him one by one, in the course of a few hours, and breaking suddenly in upon so calm and quiet a life, overwhelmed him to such a degree, that he was not quite sure whether he was dreaming or awake.