The two turned away.

Madame held out her hand towards me; I bent and kissed it.
"Mr Dale," said she, "you have all the virtues." "Alas, Madame, I fear you don't mean to commend me." "Yes, for a rarity, at least.

But you have one vice." "It shall be mended, if your Royal Highness will tell its name." "Nay, I shall increase it by naming it.

But here it is; your eyes are too wide open, Mr Dale." "My mother, Madame, used to accuse me of a trick of keeping them half-shut." "Your mother had not seen you at Court, sir." "True, Madame, nor had my eyes beheld your Royal Highness." She laughed, pleased with a compliment which was well in the mode then, though my sons may ridicule it; but as she turned away she added, "I shall not be with you to-night, and M.de Perrencourt hates a staring eye." I was warned and I was grateful.

But there I stopped.