. ."
"Peut-on entrer?" called a clear voice outside at this juncture, and
without waiting for permission the speaker entered, a very pretty
woman in an admirably fitting riding habit, which she held daintily
up with one gloved hand, extending the other as she came to the
Marquis who gracefully bent over it and kissed it.
"Charme de vous voir Princesse!" he murmured.
"Not at all! Spare me your falsehoods!" was the gay reply,
accompanied by a dazzling smile, "You are not in the least charmed,
nothing,--nobody charms you,--I least of all! Did you not see me in
church? No! Where were your eyes? On the courageous Vergniaud, who
so nearly gave us the melancholy task of arranging a 'Chapelle
ardente' for him this afternoon?" She laughed, and her eyes twinkled
maliciously,--then she went on, "Do you know he is quite a
delightful boy,--the peasant son and assassin? I think of taking him
to my Chateau and making something of him. I waited to see the whole
play out, and bring you the news. Papa Vergniaud has gone home with
his good-looking offspring--then Cardinal Bonpre--do you know the
Cardinal Bonpre?"
"By reputation merely," replied the Marquis, setting a chair for his
fair visitor, "And as the uncle of Donna Sovrani.
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