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84 of La Fronde will soon ask of me chains for posterity, and they must not encounter their rivals."

The first objects that caught the Italians' attention were portraits of Henriette and Marie Mancini.

"How she is improved!" exclaimed Guido, gazing on the face of the last.

Francesca almost unconsciously asked herself how much of this improvement might be owing to the courtly flattery of the painter.

Bournonville allowed them no time for remark. Hastily he turned their faces to the wall, and placed before them two others—one whose large melancholy blue eyes and languid fairness bespoke the Duchesse de Longueville, while the other had the perfect features and dark oriental orbs of Mademoiselle de Chevreuse. These two heroines of La Fronde being placed in the most conspicuous lights, the artist proceeded to other arrangements.

"The King may remain," muttered he, brushing the dust from the periwig of the royal Jupiter; "the Queen is just as well in the shade—this sketch of Mademoiselle will partially hide her. Now, a few nobodies and messieurs of La Fronde may come as soon as they please. And so, my children, for some dinner!"