The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-08-25

{
selle Paleotti, sister-in-law to Madame
/ Paleotti, the Queens first chamberwo-
man. She was barely out of her teens,
and, ordinarily, was pretty girl; but
the moment l saw her dead white face,
framed in a circle of Auttering fans and
/ pitiless, sparkling eyes, I discovered trag
! edy in the farce; and that NJ de Bassom-
pierre was acting in a drama to which
only he and one other held the key. The
contrast between the girls blanched face
and the beauty and glitter i'm the midst
of which she stood struck others, SO that,
before another word WIS said, / caught
the gasp of surprise that passed through
the room; not was | the only one who
drew nearer.
"Why, girl, " the Queen said, this is
the ring l gave you on my birthday
/ When did you lose it? And why have
/ you made a secret Of it2'
/ Madamolselie stood speeches., but
madame, her sister-in-IaW answered for
her Doubtless she was afraid that
/ your Majesty would think her careless, 8"
/ she answered
81 did not ask you" the Queen re-
joined.
/ She spoke harshly and suspiciously,
/ looking from the ring to the trembling
girl. The silence was such that the
chatter Of the pages in the auteroom
could be heard. Still MademOiselle stood
dumb and confounded.
''Well, what is the mystery2' the
Queen said, looking round with little
wonder "What is the matter 1t is
the ring. Why do you not own it2"
perhaps Madmoiselle is wondering
where are all the other thing she left with
it - Bassompierre lsaid in a silky tone
1.-THE things she left at Parlot the YER
derer's when she dropped the ring. But
she may free her mind; l have them
here
"What do you mean ~ the Queen
said. "What things, monsieur What
has the girl been doing Z"
"Only what many have done before
her, Bassompierre answered, bowling to
his unfortunate victim, who seemed to
be paralyzed by terror: Incorporating
in other peoples clothes. l propose,
madam, that, for punishment, you order
her to dress in them, that we may see
what her taste is"
II do not understand ~ the Queen
said.
Your Majesty will, if Mademoiselle
! Pale0tti will consent to humor us
! AT that the girl uttered a cry, and
/ looked round the circle as if for way Of
/ escape; but a Court is a cruel place, in
which the 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 feather
/ ed hat.
'If the Queen will command Made
moiselle to retire and put these on" he
said, II will undertake to show her
something that will please her."
"Go p said the Queen.
But the girl at that flung herself on
her knees before her, and, clinging to
her skirts, burst into a food 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 would not be so cruel as to
'Hoity, toity ~ said the Queen, cut
ting her short very grimly. what is
all this 2 tell the girl to put on a
Masquerade which it seems that she
has been keeping at some eottage-and
you talk as if were cutting off her
| head 1t seems to me that she escapes
very lightly Go goI and see you,
that you are arrayed In five minutes, or
I will deal with you !"
Perhaps Mademoiselle de La Force
I =
is omitted" Bassompierre said with
malice.
The laughter and applause with which
this proposal was received took me by
surprise; but later l learned that the two
women were rivals. Eyes, yes" the
Queen said, $50, Mademoiselle, and see
that she doc, not keep us waiting"
Knowing what / did, l had by this
time fair idea of the discovery which
Bassompierre had made; but the mass of
courtiers and ladies round me, who had
not this advantage knew not what to
eXpect-nor, especially, what part NJ.
Bassompierre had IN the business-but
made most diveTting suggestions, the
majority favoring the opinion that
Mademoiselle Paleotti had repulsed him,
and thas this was, his way of avenging
himself. a few of the ladies even taxed
him with this, and tried, by random re-
proachss, to put him at least on his de-
fence; but, merrily refusing to be in
weighed, he made to all the same answer
that when hademoiselle Paleotti re
turned they would see This served
only TO whet curiosity already keen,
! inSCnuoh that the door WAS vyatphad nv
as many eyes as If a miracle had been
promised; and even NM. Epernon and
Vendome, leaving the Kings side, pressed
in to the crowd that they might see the
better. I took the opportunity of goihg
to him, and, meeting his eyes as l aid
so, read in them a look of pain and dis
tress, AS l advanced be drew back a
| pace, aud signed to me to stand before
him.
had scarcely done so W EN- the door
opened aud Mademoiseile Paleotti, pale,
and supported on one side by her rival,
appeared at it; bur so wondrouS1y trans
formed by a Wig, nat, aud redingote
that | scarcely knew her. At first, as
she stood, looking at the staring crowd,
the impression made was simply one Of
bewilderment, so complete was the dis.
guise. BuS Bassompierre did not long
suffer her to stand so. Advancing to
her side, his hat under his arm, he of
fered his hand.
"Mademoiselle, " he said, Twill you
oblige me by walking AS far as the end
of the gallery with me9"
She compiled invOlnntaIily, being al