The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-11-16

occupied to the full. The people scarce
ly suffer me to rest at night Perhaps
your grace might not care for company
so dull as nine"
"Fie! my friend, my very good
FRIEND" replied Philippe. "Have you
become devot? Whence this sudden
change? Consider; It's no hardship to
meet such ladies as Madame de Sabran,
or Madame de Prie-designer though
fear De Prize is for the domestic felic-
ity of the youthful king-nor indeed
my good friend. La Parabere, some
what pale and pensive though she
groweth. And what shall 1 say for
Madame de Tencin, the spirituelle, who
is to be with us; or Madame de Cay
lus, niece of Maintenon, but the very
opposite of Maintenon in every possible
way? Moreover, we were promised the
attendance of Mademoiselle Aisse. She
hath become devout of late, and thinks
it sin even to powder her hair, but
Aisse devout is none the less Aisse
the beautiful"
Surely your grace hath never lacked
in excellent taste, and that is the talk
of Paris" replied Law.
But stay! have kept until the last
my main attraction. You shall wit
ness there, give you my word, the
making public of the secret of the fair
unknown who is reputed to have been
especially kind to Philippe of Orleans
for these some months past. Join us
at the little enterprise, my friend, and
you shall see, promise you, the most
beautiful woman in Paris, crowned
with the greatest gem of all the world
The regents diamond, that great gem
which you have made possible for
France, shall, for the first time, and
for one evening at least, adorn the
forehead of the regents queen of
beauty!"
AS the gay words of the regent fell
upon his ears, there came into Laws
heart curious tension, PRESENT.
ment, a feeling as though some great
and curious thing were about to hap
pen. Yet ever the challenge of danger
was one to draw him forward, not to
hold him back If for moment he
had hesitated, his mind was now sud-
denly resolved.
Your grace said he, "your wish
is for me command, and certainly in
this instance is peculiarly agreeable
Thus it came about that, upon that
evening, there gathered at the entrance
of the Palais Royal, after an evening
with Lecouvreur at the Theater Fran
Gals, some scattered groups of persons
evidently possessing consequence The
chairs OF others, from more distant To-
cations, threading their way through
the narrow, dark and unlighted streets
OF the old, crude capital OF France.
brought their passengers in time to a
scene far different from that of the
gloomy streets.
AS one trod within the door of this
temple of the senses, surely it must
have seemed to him that he had come
into another world, which at first
glance might have appeared to be one
of an unrighteous ease, an unprincipled
enjoyment and an unmanly abandon
ment to empowered vice. Yet here it
was that Philippe of Orleans, ruler of
France, spent those hours most dear
to him. If he gave thought to affairs
OF state during the day it was but
that these affairs of state might give
to him the means to indulge fancies
of his own. Alike shrewd and easy,
alike naughty and sensuous, here it
was that Philippe held his real court.
These young gentlemen of France
these roues who have come to meet
Philippe at his little supper-how diff
ferent from the same beings under the
rule of the Grand Monarque. Their
coats are no longer dark in hue. Their
silks and velvets have blossomed out,
even as Paris has blossomed since the
death of Louis the Grand. Jabots of
lace are shown in full abundance, and
so far from the adjustment of Jewels
from their garb, rubies, sapphires, dia-
monds sparkle everywhere, from the
clasp of the high ruffles of the neck
to the buckles of the red-heeled Shoes
Powder sparkles on the head coverings
of these new gallants of France. They
step daintily, yet not ungracefully, in
to this brilliantly-lighted room, these
creatures, gracious and resplendent,
sparkling, painted, ephemeral, not I'M
suited to the place and hour.
For the ladies, witness the attire,
for instance, of that Madame de Ten
Gin, the wonder of the wits of Paris.
A full blue costume, with pannier more
than five yards in circumference, I'M
der a skirt of silver gauze trimmed
with golden gauze and pink Grape, and
train lying six yards upon the floor,
showing silver embroideries with white
roses. The sleeves are half-draped, as
is the skirt, and each caught up with
diamonds, showing folds lying above
and below the silk underneath. Mad
anne wears a necklace of rubies and of
diamonds, and above the pannier belt
OF diamonds and rubies.
The guests, as they advanced into the
ROOM, paused as they met, coming from
the head of the apartment, the impos-
ing figure of their host. Philippe of
Orleans, his powdered wig drawn close
ly into half-bag at the nape of the
neck, his full eye shining with merri-
ment and good nature, his soft, yet not