repeated the Benedicite aloud; every one responded by making the complete
sign, or upon the breast alone. This custom was preserved in many
families in France up to the Revolution of 1789; some still practise it,
but more in the provinces than in Paris, and not without some hesitation
and some preliminary words upon the weather, accompanied by a deprecatory
smile when a stranger is present--for it is too true that virtue also has
its blush.

The Marechale possessed an imposing figure, and her large blue eyes were
remarkably beautiful. She did not appear to have yet attained her forty-
fifth year; but, oppressed with sorrow, she walked slowly and spoke with
difficulty, closing her eyes, and allowing her head to droop for a moment
upon her breast, after she had been obliged to raise her voice. At such
efforts her hand pressed to her bosom showed that she experienced sharp
pain. She saw therefore with satisfaction that the person who was seated
at her left, having at the beginning engrossed the conversation, without
having been requested by any one to talk, persisted with an imperturbable
coolness in engrossing it to the end of the dinner. This was the old
Marechal de Bassompierre; he had preserved with his white locks an air of
youth and vivacity curious to see. His noble and polished manners showed
a certain gallantry, antiquated like his costume--for he wore a ruff in
the fashion of Henri IV, and the slashed sleeves fashionable in the
former reign, an absurdity which was unpardonable in the eyes of the
beaux of the court. This would not have appeared more singular than
anything else at present; but it is admitted that in every age we laugh
at the costume of our fathers, and, except the Orientals, I know of no
people who have not this fault.

One of the Italian gentlemen had hardly finished asking the Marechal what
he thought of the way in which the Cardinal treated the daughter of the