'
"'Phlipote, you've a better heart than I! This morning I saw a
gentleman, who resembled point by point your description of the
unknown at the Sainte Chapelle, prowling about our shop.'
"'And you didn't tell me!'
"Claude hung his head.
"'But why not?' the young girl asks imperiously. 'Why not?'
"'In truth I could hardly say, hardly understand, myself. Do you
forgive me, Phlipote?'
"'I suppose I must. So make yourself as smart as you can, to please
your goddess.'"
[146] Next day she hears the story of Claude's grievous
disappointment on seeing the great actress at home--plain, five-and-
forty, ill-tempered. He had tuned the clavecin and taken flight.
And now for Phlipote's idol! It was agreed that Whitsunday should be
spent at Versailles. On that day the royal apartments were open to
the public, and at the hour of High Mass the crowd flowed back
towards the vestibule of the chapel to witness what was called the
procession of the Cordons Bleus. The "Blue Ribbons" were the knights
of the Order Du Saint-Esprit in their robes of ceremony, who came to
range themselves in the choir according to the date of their
creation. The press was so great that the parents were separated
from the young people.
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