"
Louise de Brouague's eyes gave a few flashes of indignation. "Fie,
Chevalier! that was naughtily said of you about the good Bourgeois
and his friends," exclaimed she, impetuously. "Why, the Governor,
the Lady de Tilly and her niece, the Chevalier La Corne St. Luc,
Hortense and Claude de Beauharnais, and I know not how many more
of the very elite of society have gone to do honor to Colonel
Philibert! And as for the girls in the Convent, who you will allow
are the most important and most select portion of the community,
there is not one of us but would willingly jump out of the window,
and do penance on dry bread and salt fish for a month, just for one
hour's pleasure at the ball this evening, would we not, Louises?"
Not a Louise present but assented with an emphasis that brought
sympathetic smiles upon the faces of the two young chevaliers who
had watched all this pretty play.
The Chevalier des Meloises bowed very low. "I regret so much,
ladies, to have to leave you! but affairs of State, you know--
affairs of State! The Intendant will not proceed without a full
board: I must attend the meeting to-day at the Palace.
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