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Rh that morning, her éclat a little tarnished by an overlong visit, and by an indiscreet patronage of Marie Mancini's fascinations. An idol must be picked to pieces before it is discovered to be but wood and stone. An affected inattention, and a grave smile from the Queen, reassured De Joinville as to the success of his mimicry, and Francesca was certainly the only one who stood perfectly dismayed at the sudden change from flattery to sarcasm. So eagerly was the discourse carried on, that not one perceived the Queen, who was moving round, drop her glove; it fell close to Francesca, who, drawing off her own, picked it up, and presented it. In so doing, Anne's quick eye discovered that she had no bracelet on; like all artful people, she suspected artifice, and immediately supposed that Francesca feared to wear the gem in her presence.

"My beautiful simplicity has then," thought the Queen, "deeper designs than I suspected, and is unwilling to let me see aught that can excite suspicion." "How is this," continued she aloud, "that the Signora Carrara does not honour my son by wearing his gift?"

Francesca was dismayed; this was a difficulty which she had not foreseen. Even the consciousness of right does not always support us; and to