The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-22

{ WIN a A@attNT MnlCh pore down all Op-
position; when not excited IL was IN
dulating- womanly. almost caressing.
No woman ever made a more graceful
curtsey; no queen ever bowed with more
measured tact and discrimination. But
this day 70 seemed as though only a
lstarry wOmanliness shone in her counte-
nance. She had resolved to subordinate
the Dauphiness 70 the woman The
Dauphiness wore perfect-ftting Cow
of dark blue material sparseIy trimmed
with ermine
Would tnis proud daughter OF a proud
empress descend and meet the Comtesse
du Barry on terms OF equality This
1 was the question which everyone was
Z mentally asking as the King advanced
/ across The hail toward their hostess.
jeanette flushed slightly. but otherwise
concealed her surprise and nervousness
/ with admirable success. she bowed low
as the King came UP and hardly heard
/ him say as he took her hand in his own:
! A merry Christmas. Madame Ia Com
| Jesse. Then. turning to the Dauphin-
ess: Our hostess. the Confess du Bar
/ ~. my very dear friend"
/ TIE Dauphiness had seen Jeanette
I only at distance previous TO this meet
J ing. and If she had any inherent COM
punotions over the meeting they wers
completely hidden in the almost caress-
/ ing tone in which she Youchsafed:
Your majesty is happy in having such
a dear friend. Report has reached so
far as Vienna regarding the Comtesss
du Barry. and 1 am pleased also TO wish
her a merry Christmas"
The tone in which this was said. no
less than the words themselves, had the
effsct Of astonishing. even Supplying,
the hearers. Il was evident that the
Dauphiness was following the instruc-
lions Of her mother; doubtless the sub
stance Of her speech had been dictated
By Marie Theresa.
As the Marechal de Richelieu and the
governor o. Brittany now entered and
made their devoirs 10 the King. the at
tention Of the company was temporarily
diverted from the dauDhiness and the
favorite- Louis observed the new ar
rivals with open surprise. since neither
the marechal nor his nephew had ac-
companied him from Fontainebleu. He
directed a swift glance of inquiry toward
jeanette. who explained as the two no
blemen approached:
Monsieur Ie Marechal and his nephew
are-are appearing as the Baptists in
our Christmas play. They ventured to
come from Paris in advance to prepare
the way for your majesty Before this
adroit explanation the royal frown van
ished as a mist vanishes before the sun
De Richelieu took advantage of the on
portunity. as Louis now turned TO the
Comtesse du Barry with a request FOR
her to explain the Wen alegories. to en-
gage the dauphiness in conversation.
his royal highness does not accom-
pany yOu?" he inquired
No. replied the dauphfuess. with n
smile. he is otherwise engaged"
still engaged How charming"
Again the dauphiness bIushed. but
more deeply than before at this veiIea
reminder Of the timidity OF her hus-
band They had been married by uroxv
during the preceding April. and runor
was abroad that the heir apparent had
hardly the courage to approach the dau-
phiness except in the most formal man
ner
He is engaged in mending tie clocks
in the Gallery OF Timepieces at Yer.
sailles. - she pursued
All By their works shall We know
them" laughed De RicheIieu. Then OBJ
serving that his levity was not app1aud-
ed. he sHdIlfuIIy changed the subject ana
continued:
Madame Ia Comtesse du Barry was
born under an hosDitabIe star Roth
my nephew and myself have been en-
wing her the possession OF Iouve-
eiennes."
Your envy is pardonabIe. Il Is m
deed royal residence"
Which the dauphiness IS tardv .,
visiting"
only because Paris is such a fearor.
host. she replied Since my arrival
In France my time has been mostly oc-
eupleo IN becoming better acquainted
with my husband and his family"
And the Comtesse du Barry7~
Hes just been introduced" she Ssfe
How does she impress your he ven
tured-
They say in Vienna. was her evasfva
response. that the Comtesse du Barrv
rules France
And the King2''
Must be amused"
De Richelieu eyed her keen1v b,,.
CLEANED nothing from the proud face on
posite his own. She was foIIovvirr
Jeanette with her eyes as the comtesse
passed down the hall with his majesty.
examining the famous paintings and dec
orations which had been but recently
completed Marie Antoinette. under the
adroit announcement OF de RichelIeu-
was proceeding TO describe the Aus
TRAN court. and particularly the Empress
who ruled there with such an iron hand
While they were thus engaged the Due
! AiEuillOn, who had withdrawn and was
temporarily spectator. was at liberty
10 take an inventory Of the company. He
had been absent from the mercurial
court quite long enough for many Of the
faces about him 10 be entirely new.
Among those he recognized were Nine.
de- Noailles. whose nom de guerre Of
Nine Etiquette fitted her as DerfectIv "A