"Ah, ah! Whom have we here?" he asked, winking to the Mother of the
Maids.

Frances was astonished and a little frightened, but she soon brought
herself together and retorted:--

"What is it to you, sir, whom we have here?"

At once it occurred to Frances that the impertinent man was either the
king or the duke, but she hid her suspicion.

"Much it is to me, fair mistress," returned the gentleman, taking off his
hat and bowing. "The sun shines for all, and when one dare be as
beautiful as yourself, all men may bask in the radiance and may ask,
'What new luminary is this?'"

"You may bask to your heart's content," retorted Frances, laughing, "but
you must know that it does not please the sun to be stopped by an
unprepossessing stranger."

The Mother's face bore a look of consternation, and the gentleman threw
back his head, laughing uproariously.

"Ah, my beauty, but I would not remain a stranger. If I am
unprepossessing, it is because I am as God made me and I cannot help it.
But I can help being a stranger to you and would make myself known, and
would present my compliments to--"

"To the devil, who perhaps may like your impertinence better than I like