TEN YEAKS LATER. 93 could appreciate every character and style of beauty. A young, fair-complexioned girl, from twenty to twenty- one years of age, and whose large blue eyes flashed, as she opened them, in the most dazzling manner, walked at the head of the band and was the first presented. "Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente," said Mme. de Navailles to Monsieur, who, as he saluted his wife, repeated: "Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente." "Ah! ah!" said the Prince de Conde to Kaoul, "she seems tolerable enough." "Yes," said Raoul, "but has a somewhat haughty style." "Bah! we know these airs very well, vicomte; three months hence she will be tame enough. But look! that, indeed, is a pretty face." "Yes," said Eaoul, "and one I am acquainted with." "Mademoiselle Aure de Montalais," said Mme. de Navailles. The name and Christian name were carefully repeated by Monsieur. "Great heavens!" exclaimed Eaoul, fixing his bewildered gaze upon the entrance doorway. "What's the matter?" inquired the prince; "was it Mademoiselle Aure de Montalais who made you utter such a 'Great heavens!' " "No, monseigneur, no," replied Eaoul, pale and trem- bling. "Well, then, if it be not Mademoiselle Aure de Montalais, it is that pretty blonde who follows her. What beautiful eyes! She is rather thin, but has fascinations without number." "Mademoiselle de la Baume le Blanc de la Valliere," said Mme. de Navailles; and, as this name resounded through his whole being, a cloud seemed to rise from his breast to his eyes, so that he neither saw nor heard anything more; and the prince, finding him nothing more than a mere echo which remained silent under his railleries, moved forward to inspect somewhat closer the beautiful girls whom his first glance had already particularized. "Louise here! Louise a maid of honor to madame!" mur- mured Eaoul; and his eyes, which did not suffice to satisfy his reason, wandered from Louise to Montalais. The latter had already emancipated herself from her assumed timidity, which she only needed for the presenta- tion and for her reverences. Mile, de Montalais, from the corner of the room to which
