"Assure him," said I, "of the pleasure it will afford us to
receive him as he merits."

Several persons entered, and M. Morand, profiting by the bustle
which their entrance occasioned, approached me, and said, in a
low tone,

"You are in possession of his heart, will you charge me with
any message to him?"

"M. Morand," was my reply, "what are you thinking of? A
woman of my rank throw herself at any person's head?"

"No, certainly not; but you can send him a kind word, or some
affectionate token."

"I could not think of it; M. Lebel appeared to me a most agreeable
man, and I shall be at all times delighted to see him."

Morand asked nothing more than this, and there our conversation ended.

Two days elapsed without being marked by any event. Comte Jean
had spent them with much anxiety. He was absent, when, on the
third morning, Henriette came hastily into my room. "Madame," she
said, "the of the king is in the drawing-room,
and inquires if you will receive him."

At this news I was surprised and vexed. M. Lebel took me unawares;
my toilette was not begun. I gave a hasty glance at my mirror, "Let