adorning my hair and person, till I issued from their hands blooming
and beauteous as an houri.

When I returned to the room in which Lebel was expecting me, his
surprise was almost overpowering.

"You are, indeed," exclaimed he, "the new sun which is to rise
upon Versailles."

"Excellent!" cried I, laughing extravagantly, "but like the planet
you are pleased to compare me with, I must reserve my splendid
rising till I have obtained fresh powers from the aid of night."*

*,
is the witty reply in the original, but which it is
impossible to render fully and piquantly through the
dilution of a translation.---tr.

The comte entered, and joined his congratulations upon the beauty
of my appearance; all at once the hasty, sound of a bell, violently
pulled, was heard.

"The object of your attack approaches," said Lebel to me, "it
would be as well to reconnoitre a little. Remember, not a word
of his rank, no cast down, timid looks at his sovereign power;
no bending of knees, or faltering of voice."

The advice thus given was useless. Comte Jean, who bore the
reputation of, at least, a man of much cool impudence, was, I am
certain, more deficient than myself in courage upon the occasion,