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Rh in a small room fitted up as a tent with amber-coloured silk. The King and the Due d'Anjou entering at the same minute, a lively conversation began, which the Comtesse almost entirely supported. Suddenly the Duc caught sight of himself in a mirror opposite: "Mon Dieu!" exclaimed he, "I am too fair to remain here—I am quite overpowered by this colour; for mercy's sake, madame, come and dance with me, in pity to my complexion."

He took Marie's hand, and they quitted the tent, thus leaving his brother and Francesca to an inevitable tête-à-tête. Louis was silent, and seemingly somewhat embarrassed; and it was not till a slight movement of his companion indicated an intention of rising, that he said, "Pray do not go, Mademoiselle—I want to know how you like the fête."

"It is very gay," replied she.

"I have not enjoyed it till this moment," exclaimed her companion. "Ah! it is so irksome to have your attention distracted by every one excepting that one to whom it is devoted."

Francesca could only bow with as little of the air of taking the speech to herself as possible; but a young lover, like a child in the dark, gains courage from the sound of his own voice. Louis