Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-24

wnere are the other things she left with
tt!' Bassompierre said in a silky tone. 1.-THE
things she left at Parlot, the verderer's.
when she dropped the ring. But she may
free her mind; have them here"
what do you mean?' the queen said.
What things, monsieur? What has the
girl been doing?"
"Only what many have done before her."
Bassompierre answered, bowling to his I'M
lyzed by terror: disappearing in other
peoples clothes. I propose, madame, that,
for punishment, you order her to dress in
them, that we may see w what her taste is"
''Your majesty will, If ,Mademoiselle Pale
otti will consent to humor u.s.
At that the girl uttered cry, and looked
round the circle as if for way of escape;
ugly or helpless find scant pity. A dozen
voices begged the queen to insist; and,
amid laughter and loud jests. Bassompierre
FASTENED to the door, and returned with an
armful of women's gear, surmounted by
wig and feathered hat.
III the queen will command mademoi-
selle to retire and put these on he said,
that will please her."
Go" said the queen.
But the girl at that flung herself on her
skirts, burst into flood of tears and
prayers; while her sister-in-law stepped
forward as If to second her, and cried out,
in great excitement, that her majesty
"Hoity. toity," said the queen. cutting
her short very grimly. ''What Is all this?
I tell the girl to put on a masquerade
which it seems that she has been keeping
cutting off her head! 1t seems to me that
she escapes very lightly! Go! go! and see.
you, that you are arrayed in five minutes,
or will deal with your
Perhaps Mademofselle de La Force will
go with her and see that nothing is omit
ted" Bassompierre said with malice.
The laughter and applause with which
this proposal was received took me by sur
prise, but later I learned that the two
young women were rivals. Yes. yes" the
queen said. go. mademoiselle. and see
that she does not keep US waiting"
Knowing what did had by this time
fair idea of the discovery which Bassom-
pierre had made, but the mass Of courtiers
and ladies round me, who had not this ad-
vantage, knew not what to expect-nor,
especially, what part NJ. Bassompierre had
in .the business-but made most diverting
suggestions, the majority favoring the
opinion that Mademoiselle Paleotti had
repulsed him. and that this was his way
even taxed him with this, and tried. by
random reproaches. to put him at least on
his defense, but merrily refusing to be in
weighed, he made to all the same answer
that when Mademoiselle Paleotu returned
they would see. This served only to whet
curiosity already keen, insomuch that
the door was watched by as many eyes as
II u
NM. Epernon and. vendome, leaving the
kings side, pressed, into the crowd that
they might see the better. 1 took the OPP
portunity of going to him, and, meeting
his eyes did so, read in them look of
pain and distress. AS I advanced he drew
back pace and signed to me to stand be-
fore him.
1 had scarcely done so when the door
opened and Mademoiselle Paleotti, pale,
and supported on one side by her rival, ap-
peared at 1T; but so wondrously transform
ed by wig. hat and redingote that 1
scarcely knew her. At first as she stood
locking al the staring crowd, the impression
made was simply one of bewilderment, so
complete was the disguise. But Bassom-
pierre did not long suffer her to stand SO.
Advancing to her side, his hat under his
arm, he offered his hand.
"Mademoiselle," he said, will you oblige
me by walking as far as the end Of The
gallery with me?"
She complied involuntarily, being almost
urable to stand alone. But the. two had
not proceeded half way down the gallery
before low murmur began to be heard.
that, growing quickly louder. eliminated in
an astonished cry Of Madame de Condo!
Madame de Condor
NJ. Bassompierre dropped her hand with
a low bow, and turned to the queen
Madame" he said, this, I fiEd, Is the
lady whom I saw on the terrace when
Madame Paleotti IVES so good as to invite
me to walk on the Bois-le-Roi road. For
the rest, your majesty may draw your con-
clusions'
1t was easy to see that the queen had
already drawn them; but for the moment
the unfortunate girl was saved from her
wrath. With low cry, Mademoiselle Pale
otti did that which she would have done a
little before, had she been wise. and
swC oned on the floor.
1 turned to look at the king, and found
him gone. He had withdrawn unseen in
the first confusion of the surprise; nor
did dare at once 20 interrupt him, or in
trude on the strange mixture of regret and
relief, wrath and longing, that probably
possessed him in the silence of his closet
1t was enough for me that the Italians
a rupture between the king and queen,
which these miscreants desired, and had
felt to be so great and imminent, was,
fer this time, overpast.
The Paleottis were punished, being sent
home in disgrace, and a penury which,
doubtless, they felt more keenly.