There remained Leonide de Chezelles and Steiner, an ugly little knot against which Mme Hugon's elderly and amiable serenity stood out in strange contrast.

And Fauchery, having sketched out his article, named this last group "Countess Sabine's little clique." "On another occasion," continued Steiner in still lower tones, "Leonide got her tenor down to Montauban.

She was living in the Chateau de Beaurecueil, two leagues farther off, and she used to come in daily in a carriage and pair in order to visit him at the Lion d'Or, where he had put up.

The carriage used to wait at the door, and Leonide would stay for hours in the house, while a crowd gathered round and looked at the horses." There was a pause in the talk, and some solemn moments passed silently by in the lofty room.

Two young men were whispering, but they ceased in their turn, and the hushed step of Count Muffat was alone audible as he crossed the floor.