Page:The Writings of Prosper Merimee-Volume 5.djvu/248

226 flaming coloured ribbons. The Countess could not now lay claim to any beauty, but she still persisted in keeping up the habits of her youth, decking herself in styles of fifty years ago, and taking as much pains with her dress as did any painted woman of the past century. Her demoiselle de compagnie was seated at the window, working on a piece of embroidery.

"Good-morning, Grandmamma," said a young officer entering the dressing-room.

"How do you do. Mademoiselle Lisa. Grandmamma, I have come to ask you a favour?"

"What is it, Paul?" "Will you allow me to present one of my friends to you and may I ask you to give him an invitation to your ball?"

"Bring him to my ball and you can introduce him then. Did you go to the Princess's reception last night?"

"Of course, and we had a delightful evening. We danced until daylight, and Miss Eletzki was simply exquisite."

"Well, my dear boy, I must say that you are not hard to please. You should have seen her grandmother, the Princess Daria Petrovna. She was a beauty. But tell me, she must be pretty old, Princess Daria?"

"What do you mean," cried Tomski