With his head hanging down, his limbs relaxed, his mouth half open for the escape of his sighs, Raoul remained, thus forgotten, in the ante-chamber, when all at once a lady's robe passed, rubbing against the doors of a side salon, which opened on the gallery.

A lady, young, pretty, and gay, scolding an officer of the household, entered by that way, and expressed herself with much vivacity.

The officer replied in calm but firm sentences; it was rather a little love pet than a quarrel of courtiers, and was terminated by a kiss on the fingers of the lady.

Suddenly, on perceiving Raoul, the lady became silent, and pushing away the officer: "Make your escape, Malicorne," said she; "I did not think there was any one here.

I shall curse you, if they have either heard or seen us!" Malicorne hastened away.