94 TEJiT YEARS LATER. she had retired, was looking with no slight confidence at the different persons present; and, having discovered Eaonl, she amnsed herself with the profound astonishment which her own and her friend's presence there had caused the un- happy lover. Her merry and malicious look, which Eaoul tried to avoid meeting, and yet which he sought inquiringly from time to time, placed Eaoul on the rack. As for Louise, whether from natural timidity, or from any other reason for which Eaoul could not account, she kept her eyes constantly cast down, and intimidated, dazzled, and with impeded respiration, she withdrew herself as much as possible aside, unaffected even by the knocks which Monta- lais gave her with her elbow. The whole scene was a per- fect enigma for Eaoul, the key to which he would have given anything to obtain. But no one was there Avho could assist him, not even Malicorne, who, a little uneasy at find- ing himself in the presence of so many persons of good birth, and not a little discouraged by Montalais' bantering glances, had described a circle, and by degrees had suc- ceeded in getting a few paces from the prince, behind the group of maids of honor, and nearly within reach of Mile. Aure's voice, she being the planet around which he, her attendant satellite, seemed compelled to gravitate. As he recovered his self-possession Eaoul fancied he recognized voices on his right hand which were familiar to him, and he perceived De Wardes, De Guiche, and the Chevalier de Lor- raine, conversing together. It is true they were talking in tones so low that the sound of their words could hardly be heard in the vast apartment. To speak in that manner from any particular place without bending down, or turning round, or looking at the person with whom one might be engaged in conversation, is a talent which cannot be imme- diately acquired in perfection by newcomers. A long study is needed for such conversations, which, without a look, gesture, or movement of the head, seemed like the conver- sation of a group of statues. In fact, in the king's and queen's grand assemblies, while their majesties were speak- ing, and while every one present seemed to be listening with the most profound silence, some of these noiseless conversa- tions took place, in which adulation was not the prevailing feature. But Eaoul was one among others exceedingly clever in this art, so much a matter of etiquette, that from the movement of the lips he was often able to guess the sense of the words. "Who is that Montalais?" inquired De Wardes, "and
