There could not, however, escape, in these circumstances, one of the surrounding details; and the new object which presented itself appeared as luminous as though it shone out in full sunlight.

So it happened with Louis XIV., when he showed himself, pale and frowning, in the doorway of the secret stairs.
The face of Fouquet appeared behind him, stamped with sorrow and determination.

The queen-mother, who perceived Louis XIV., and who held the hand of Philippe, uttered a cry of which we have spoken, as if she beheld a phantom.

Monsieur was bewildered, and kept turning his head in astonishment from one to the other.

Madame made a step forward, thinking she was looking at the form of her brother-in-law reflected in a mirror.
And, in fact, the illusion was possible.