"Will you be kind enough to follow me?" said the servant to whom
he handed his card. "The baron is very busy, but that doesn't
matter. He gave orders that monsieur should be shown up as soon
as he arrived."
Pascal followed without a word. The elegance of this princely
abode never varied. The same careless, prodigal, regal luxury was
apparent everywhere. The servants--whose name was legion--were
always passing noiselessly to and fro. A pair of horses, worth at
least a thousand louis, and harnessed to the baroness's brougham,
were stamping and neighing in the courtyard; and the hall was, as
usual, fragrant with the perfume of rare flowers, renewed every
morning.
On his first visit Pascal had only seen the apartments on the
ground floor. This time his guide remarked that he would take him
upstairs to the baron's private room. He was slowly ascending the
broad marble staircase and admiring the bronze balustrade, the
rich carpet, the magnificent frescoes, and the costly statuary,
when a rustle of silk resounded near him. He had only time to
step aside, and a lady passed him rapidly, without turning her
head, or even deigning to look at him. She did not appear more
than forty, and she was still very beautiful, with her golden hair
dressed high on the back of her head. Her costume, brilliant
enough in hue to frighten a cab horse, was extremely eccentric in
cut; but it certainly set off her peculiar style of beauty to
admirable advantage.
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