M. Lebel come in"; and M. Lebel, who was on the heels of my maid,
entered instantly. After having saluted me, he said,

"It is only you, Madame, whom one might thus surprise. Your
beauty needs no ornament, your charms are decoration sufficient."

I replied to this compliment with (of course) much modesty,
according to custom. We entered into conversation, and I found
that Lebel really thought me the sister-in-law of comte Jean; and
I remarked the involuntary respect that attended even his familiarity.
I left him in his error, which was material to my interests. He
talked to me some time of my attractions, of the part which a
female like myself might assume in France. But fearing to
compromise myself, I made no reply, but preserved the reserve
which my character imposed upon me. I am not clever, my friend,
I never could conduct an intrigue: I feared to speak or do wrong;
and whilst I kept a tranquil appearance, I was internally agitated
at the absence of comte Jean.

Fortune sent him to me. He was passing the street, when he saw
at our door a carriage with the royal livery. Lebel always used
it when his affairs did not demand a positive incognito. This
equipage made him suspect a visit from Lebel, and he came in
opportunely to extricate me from my embarrassment.

"Sir," said Lebel to him, when he entered, "here is the lady
whose extreme modesty refuses to listen to what I dare not
thus explain to her."

"Is it anything I may hear for her?" said the comte,