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Rh "We must send a fleet to Lisbon on purpose for grapes, my pretty sister," said the Duke.

"Have you heard," continued Marie, "the new version M. de Rochefoucault has given of his celebrated epigram on Madame de Longueville? Joinville was telling it to me to-day."

"And he told me," added the Duchesse, "that the lady, since the death of the Duc de Nemours, has taken to la haute dévotion. By the by, this is the second lover she has lost in a duel; her first, Coligni, was killed by the Duc de Guise."

"Her face," said Guido, "has all the mournful loveliness of one of Coreggio's Magdalens."

"Hush, hush!" said Marie, "we do not allow her beauty; I forewarn you against admitting that a single trace remains."

"You will see the court to great advantage to-morrow," said the Duchesse, addressing Francesca. "We are on the eve of a most delightful fête—we are going to put Amadis of Gaul into rehearsal; the King and the principal nobles will ride at the ring to-morrow. The King himself leads the first band, the Duc de Guise the second, the Duc de Candale—"

"The Duc de Guise," said Mercœur, "is quite my beau ideal of the days of chivalry.