sympathetic heart.

Instinct and knowledge of the political aspect of France told her that by
entrusting valuable family jewels to the old Abbe, Juliette had most
unwittingly placed the man she so much trusted in danger of persecution
at the hands of a government which did not even admit the legality of
family possessions. However, there was neither time nor opportunity
now to enlarge upon the subject. Marguerite resolved to recur to it a
little later, when she would be alone with Mlle. de Marny, and above all
when she could take counsel with her husband as to the best means of
recovering the young girl's property for her, whilst relieving a devoted
old man from the dangerous responsibility which he had so selflessly
undertaken.

In the meanwhile the two women had reached the first of the long line of
state apartments wherein the brilliant fete was to take place. The
staircase and the hall below were already filled with the early arrivals.
Bidding Juliette to remain in the ballroom, Lady Blakeney now took up
her stand on the exquisitely decorated landing, ready to greet her guests.
She had a smile and a pleasant word for all, as, in a constant stream, the
elite of London fashionable society began to file past her, exchanging the
elaborate greetings which the stilted mode of the day prescribed to this
butterfly-world.

The lacqueys in the hall shouted the names of the guests as they passed
up the stairs: names celebrated in politics, in worlds of sport, of science
or of art, great historic names, humble, newly-made ones, noble
illustrious titles. The spacious rooms were filling fast. His Royal
Highness, so 'twas said, had just stepped out of his barge. The noise of
laughter and chatter was incessant, like unto a crowd of gaily-plumaged