The bell behind the scenes was ringing, and the curtain was about to
rise again.

"Let us _go_," said Daniel to M. de Brevan: "I am suffering."

He was really suffering, mortified by the ridiculous scene which
Henrietta's father was playing. But he entertained no longer any doubts;
he had clearly seen how the adventuress was spurring on the old man, and
fanning his feeble flame.

"Ah! it will be hard work to rescue the count from the wiles of this
witch," said Maxime.

Having left the house, they were just turning into the narrow street
which leads to the boulevards, when they saw a tall man, wrapped up in
a huge cloak, coming towards them, and behind him a servant with a whole
armful of magnificent roses. It was Count Ville-Handry. Coming suddenly
face to face upon Daniel, he seemed at first very much embarrassed;
then, recovering himself, he said,--

"Why, is this you? Where on earth do you come from?"

"From the theatre."

"And you run away before the fifth act? That is a crime against the
majesty of Mozart. Come, go back with me, and I promise you a pleasant
surprise."

Brevan came up close to Daniel, and whispered to him,--