picture of the Spanish grandee, starved to death where he stood in the
cupboard walled up by Madame de Merret's husband, and that husband's
last word as he replied to his wife's entreaty, "You swore on that
crucifix that there was no one in that closet!" produced their full
effect. There was a silent minute, highly flattering to Bianchon.

"Do you know, gentlemen," said Madame de la Baudraye, "love must be a
mighty thing that it can tempt a woman to put herself in such a
position?"

"I, who have certainly seen some strange things in the course of my
life," said Gravier, "was cognizant in Spain of an adventure of the
same kind."

"You come forward after two great performers," said Madame de la
Baudraye, with coquettish flattery, as she glanced at the two
Parisians. "But never mind--proceed."

"Some little time after his entry into Madrid," said the
Receiver-General, "the Grand Duke of Berg invited the magnates of the
capital to an entertainment given to the newly conquered city by the
French army. In spite of the splendor of the affair, the Spaniards
were not very cheerful; their ladies hardly danced at all, and most of
the company sat down to cards. The gardens of the Duke's palace were
so brilliantly illuminated, that the ladies could walk about in as
perfect safety as in broad daylight. The fete was of imperial
magnificence. Nothing was grudged to give the Spaniards a high idea of
the Emperor, if they were to measure him by the standard of his
officers.