Page:Ten Years Later.djvu/94

84 themselves followed by a portion of the king's military household, had arrived to meet his affianced bride. At St. Germain the princess and her mother had changed their heavy traveling-carriage, somewhat impaired by the journey, for a light, richly decorated chariot drawn by six horses with white-and-gold harness. Seated in this open carriage, as though upon a throne, and beneath a parasol of embroidered sillc, fringed with feathers, sat the young and lovely princess, on whose beaming face were reflected the softened rose-tints which suited her delicate skin to perfection. Monsieur, on reaching the carriage, was struck by her beauty; he showed his admiration in so marked a manner that the Chevalier de Lorraine shrugged his shoulders as he listened to his compliments, while Buckingham and De Guiche were almost heart-broken. After the usual courtesies had been rendered, and the ceremony completed, the procession slowly resumed the road to Paris. The presentations had been carelessly made, and Buckingham, with the rest of the English gentlemen, had been introduced to Monsieur, from whom they had received but a very indifferent attention. But, during their progress, as he observed that the duke devoted himself with his accustomed earnest- ness to the carriage door, he asked the Chevalier de Lorraine, his inseparable companion:

"Who is that cavalier?"

"He was presented to your highness a short time since; it is the handsome Duke of Buckingham."

"Yes, yes, I remember."

"Madame's knight," added the favorite, with an inflection of the voice which envious minds can alone give to the simplest phrases.

"What do you say?" replied the prince.

"I said 'madame's knight.'"

"Has she a recognized knight, then?"

"One would think you can judge of that for yourself; look, only, how they are laughing and flirting. AH three of them."

"What do you mean by all three?"

"Do you not see that De Guiche is one of the party?"

"Yes, I see. But what does that prove?"

"That madame has two admirers instead of one."

"You poison everything, viper!"

"I poison nothing. Ah! your royal highness' mind is very perverted. The honors of the kingdom of France are being paid to your wife, and you are not satisfied."