Epernon
and Vendome, leaving the King's side, pressed into the crowd that
they might see the better. I took the opportunity of going to
him, and, meeting his eyes as I did so, read in them a look of
pain and distress. As I advanced he drew back a pace, and signed
to me to stand before him.
I had scarcely done so when the door opened and Mademoiselle
Paleotti, pale, and supported on one side by her rival, appeared
at it; but so wondrously transformed by a wig, hat, and redingote
that I scarcely knew her. At first, as she stood, looking with
shamed eyes at the staring crowd, the impression made was simply
one of bewilderment, so complete was the disguise. But
Bassompierre did not long suffer her to stand so. Advancing to
her side, his hat under his arm, he offered his hand.
"Mademoiselle," he said, "will you oblige me by walking as far as
the end of the gallery with me?"
She complied involuntarily, being almost unable to stand alone.
But the two had not proceeded half-way down the gallery before a
low murmur began to be heard, that, growing quickly louder,
culminated in an astonished cry of "Madame de Conde! Madame de
Conde!"
M.
Pages:
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369