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The Two Friends.
At the very time M.de Baisemeaux was showing Aramis the prisoners in the Bastile, a carriage drew up at Madame de Belliere's door, and, at that still early hour, a young woman alighted, her head muffled in a silk hood.

When the servants announced Madame Vanel to Madame de Belliere, the latter was engaged, or rather was absorbed, in reading a letter, which she hurriedly concealed.

She had hardly finished her morning toilette, her maid being still in the next room.

At the name--at the footsteps of Marguerite Vanel, Madame de Belliere ran to meet her.
She fancied she could detect in her friend's eyes a brightness which was neither that of health nor of pleasure.