"Listen to me, chevalier,"
said she, "you are neglecting me already for sake of Cecile
Tourangeau!" La Corne was exchanging some gay badinage with a
graceful, pretty young lady on the other side of the table, whose
snowy forehead, if you examined it closely, was marked with a red
scar, in figure of a cross, which, although powdered and partially
concealed by a frizz of her thick blonde hair, was sufficiently
distinct to those who looked for it; and many did so, as they
whispered to each other the story of how she got it.
Le Gardeur de Repentigny sat by Cecile, talking in a very sociable
manner, which was also commented on. His conversation seemed to be
very attractive to the young lady, who was visibly delighted with
the attentions of her handsome gallant.
At this moment a burst of instruments from the musicians, who
occupied a gallery at the end of the hall, announced a vocal
response to the toast of the King's health, proposed by the
Bourgeois. "Prepare yourself for the chorus, Chevalier," exclaimed
Hortense. "Father de Berey is going to lead the royal anthem!"
"Vive le Roi!" replied La Corne.
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