The Cairo bulletin., 1904-09-03
CHAPTER xXHI.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

CdHu&dDfd standing upon tue long
table which was glistening with q
gorgeous service of rare and mas
sive plate. Ancient fagons of curl
Gus shapes from Flanders, cups from
Italy that .Cellini might have chased
exquisite dishes of the finest Scvres
pate tendre, the royal porcelain of
France, first coming into use at that
time-Madame de Pompadour's one
good Nift to humanity--were ranged
upon the board. Wine of the rarest
vintage, fabulously old and each drop
priceless, sparkled in the tall crystal
had brought from Venice. The
damask linen cloth was strewn with
strange and beautiful orchids from
the matohless Conservatives of the
chateau, their odd shapes and Law
ender hues wildly outlined against
the snowy napery.
Servants in the gorgeous medieval
livery of the de Rohans fitted noise
lessly about serving the numerous
guests. Musicians from one of the
ships in the harbor discoursofl sweet
melodies in an adjoining chamber In
short nothing had been left undone
to gige honor and magnifieenee to the
feast The resources of the chateau
had been layishly displayed and YER
saillos itself could scarcely have af-
forded more splendid showing Of
lsXurious elegance and wealth
Around The board were grouped men
bearing the names Of some of the
noblest families in France At the
head, of course, sat the Marquis de
Chabot -Rohan himself, old Jean.
Renaud standing erect behind his
chair. On his right, in the scat Of
honor, was placed Admiral de Con-
fans. who, in addition TO his Exalted
naval rank, was also a marshal of
France. Next to the marshal-admiral
was placed the venerable and princely
archbishop of Vannes. Below him sat
his higlness the Prince de Besuffre-
mont-Listenois, the vice admiral Of the
eet-uGfortunately not destined 10
add TO his renown in tho coming cam
pasn.
ALUM AltHE III RA lNt vi AAilh 49,
ranged the chief officers and captains
OF the van division of the great French
Armada. Among them, near the foot
Of the table, sad Denis de Wire lie
had been duly exchanged since his ar
rival and promoted 10 the rank OF
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, and recently APP
Pointed executive officer Of he These.
still under the command of tic Comic
&c kersaint de KerSuclon.
Grattons elance took in this line |
with one quick survey, and then tuyucd
to the other side of The table. Ills gaze |
SWEPT past The marquis and rested |
upon the person who sat at his left |
hand. Ehis place was occupied by the |
granddaughter OF the house. He |
looked al her for q second, then closetf
his eyes as if the sight had dazElcd |
him. Never had he seen her so beau
tiful, never had she presented so |
splendid and glorious a picture. Not /
in his MOST rapturous lovers dream
had he imagined this
She wore dress of pale violet satin,
with pippings of white and lacings
Of silver over the pointed bodice. It
was cut low Of conrse, after the FASH
ION Of the day. and afforded full view
of hcr dazzling neck and shoulders.
Tho gaze OF other men upon them
seemed TO Grafton a proclamation.
She wasla perfect blaze Of diamonds.
The jewels of centuries, known and
storied in the de Rohan traditions. had
been wrought by cunning artifcers in
to rare and beautiful forms TO pre-
sent a fit setting for her radiant
beauty. A corUnet of gems flashed in
the mazes of her powdered hair Dia-
mond stars caught the bertha Of
point lace which fell low
over her corsago; diamond clusters
fastened the little white plume that
cGrled backward. like a sunbeam IN q
twilight. over her hair. rising softly
from her sweet brow in the fashion
of the tine.
Low at her corssge shc wore bunch
of priceless orchids whose purple and
violet bues shot with toacbcs Of sIi
blended so oxquisiiely with the fab-
ric Of her gown.
Grafton had eyes for no one bat her.
lie had known that she was beautiful
even in the simplicity in which size
had always been robed when he had
seen her. He had known that she
was The fairest OF women. to him at
any rate. but he never realized until | /
now how n.agnilcently royal she vas
In her. rare and exquisite l0yeliness. :
His heart sank as he looked at her. ,
She was one in a world Surely this
treasure in which Nature summed ID ,
The achievements Of the past and ST. !
ficiDatsd the possibilities ~ the fr- !
lure could not be- for him, Bui If not
Tor him. for no ono. he swors Yet nc
'e.t an intense ssrapafh- for poor de A.,
ti're. sit~ns hafcsrd n tie foo. - the
asle, eaiing nothing. mnodilv Dram
as his glass and staring at Nnnc. F.
She was as FAR from him as Heaven
Next to Anne. with the permiss ion
4 the guests sn account q the nature
4 the occasion. the marquis had /,
,lared the C0mte de RersaiRt. whose f,
lavs rank would moi have sc5iiicd
hin to 20 high seat At me table
Sext to de KeUaint sat Tie gallant