For an instant the idea struck Madame Danglars that this eagerness on the part of the young viscount arose from his impatience to join her party, and she whispered her expectations to her daughter, that Albert was hurrying to pay his respects to them. Mademoiselle Eugenie, how ever, merely returned a dissenting movement of the head, while she directed the attention of her mother to an opposite loge, situated on the first circle, in which sat the Countess G, where Morcerf had just made his appearance.
"So we meet again, my traveling friend, do we?" cried the countess, extending her hand to him with all the warmth and cordiality of an old acquaintance; "it was really very good of you to recognize me so quickly, and still more so to bestow your first visit on me."
"Be assured," replied Albert, "that if I had been aware of your arrival in Paris, and had known your address, I should have paid my respects to you long ere this. Allow me to introduce my friend, Baron de Château-Renaud, one of the rare gentlemen now to be found in France, and from whom I have just learned that you were at the races in the Champ-de-Mars, yesterday."
Château-Renaud bowed to the countess.
"Were you at the races, then, M. le Baron?" inquired the countess eagerly.
"I was."
"Well, then," pursued Madame G, with considerable animation, "you can probably tell me to whom belonged the winner of the Jockey Club stakes?"
"I am sorry to say I cannot," replied the baron; "and I was just asking the same question of my friend Albert."
"Are you very anxious to know, Madame la Comtesse!" asked Albert.
"To know what?"
"The name of the owner of the winning horse!"
"Excessively; only imagine but do tell me, M. le Vicomte, whether you really are acquainted with it or no?"
"I beg your pardon, madame, but you were about to relate some story, were you not I You said, ' only imagine.'"
"Well, then, listen. You must know I felt so interested for the splendid roan horse, with his elegant little rider, so tastefully dressed in a pink satin jacket and cap, that I could not help praying for their success with as much earnestness as though the half of my fortune were at stake; and when I saw them outstrip all the others, and come to the winning-post in such gallant style, I actually clapped my hands with joy. Imagine my surprise when, upon returning home, I met on the
