Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-05-26

A~~-t ~~-e@~-e 49, ~-oe~A~~t
lie controleur-general," came the soft
tones of the attendant near the door
Monsieur Guillaume Las, brother of
the controleur-g general.
The eyes of all were turned toward
the door Every petted belle of Paris
there assembled shifted bodily in her
seat. turning her gaze upon that man
whose reputation was the talk Of all
the realm of France.
All, Monsieur Las, Monsieur Last,
exclaimed Philippe of Orleans, stepping
forward TO welcome him and taking
the hand of Law in both his own.
"You are welcome, you are very well
come indeed. The soup will be with us
presently, and the wine of Al is with us
now. You and your brother are with
us; and all at last is well. These ladies
are, as believe, all within your ac-
quaintance You have been present at
the salon of Madame de Tencin. You
know her grace the Duchess de Falari,
recently Madame d'Artague? Mademoi-
selle de Caylus you know very well.
and of course also Mademoiselle Aisse.
la belle Circassienne but what!
Diable! Have you gone mad? Come
is the sight Of my guest too much fol-
you also, Monsieur L'as?''
There was irritation in the tone
with which the regent uttered this pro
test, yet he continued:
Monsieur Las, It's but a little sur
prise had planned for you. Mademoi-
selle, my princess of the Messasebe.
let me present Monsieur Jean Las,
king of the Messasebe, and hence your
sovereign! This is my fair unknown.
whose face have promised you should
see to-night-this, Monsieur Las, is my
princess, the one whom have seen fit
to honor this evening by the wearing
of the chief gem of France
The regent fumbled for an instant at
his fob. He stepped to the side of the
faltering figure which stood arrayed
in all its savage fnery. One move
ment, and upon the dark locks which
fell about her brow there blazed the I'M
speakable fires of stone whose mag
nificence brought forth EXPLANATIONS
of awe from every person present
"SeeiD cried Philippe of Orleans.
I" Twas on the advice and by the aid of
Monsieur Las that / secured the gem,
whose like is not known in all the
world 'Tis chief of the crown jewels
Of the realm of France, this stone, now
to be known as the regents diamond.
And now, as regent Of France and mas
Ter for day of her jewels, l place
this gem upon the brow of her who for
this night is to be your queen of
beauty!9
The wine Of All had already done
part of it's work There were bright
ened eyes, easy gestures and ready
compliance as the guests arose to quaff
the toast to this new queen.
AS for the queen herself, she stood
faltering, her eyes averted, her limbs
trembling. John Law, tall, calm, self
possessed, did not take his seat, but
stood with set, fixed face, gazing at
the woman who held the place of honor
at the table of the regent.
Come! Comet cried the latter,
testify, his wine working in his brain
why stand you there, Monsieur Las,
gazing as though spellbound? Salute,
sir, as l do, the chief gem of France,
and her who is most fit to wear It'll =
John Law stood, as though he had
not heard him speak. There swept
through the softly brilliant air. over
the flash and glitter Of the great ban
quet board, across the little group
which stood about it, sudden sense of
a strange, tense, unfamiliar situation.
There came to all presentiment of
some unusual thing about to happen.
Instinctively the hands paused, even
as they raised the bright and trimming