The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1911-11-23
CHAPTER II.
THE SALON OF MADAME DU
NJATNn

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MAINE.
1t was with no little interest that I
looked about me, for the salon of the
Duchess du Maine was one of the most
famous in France. My first impression
was one of disappointment. for the
scene was less striking than / mad
thought to find IL. Groups of people
were scattered here and there down the
long room, and At the farther end q
little court was gathered about a lady
whom / did not doubt was the duchess
herself. There We're few other women
present, a circumstance which greatly
astonished me, and the men had a sim
8ular diversity of dress and manner
~betokening that it a no ordinary mo-
tive which had drawn them together
from so many ranks of life and SO
many strata of society. 1t needle but a
glance to tell me hat these were not
wits and beaux, but, in Richelieu's
words. men of action. Nearly every one
looked up as we entered with, as it
seemed to me-, a vague air of fear, but
this vanished instantly when they saw
that Richelieu was my companion.
"Ah, Mile. de Launay," said the duke
to a young lady who FASTENED to us
from the nearest group, Il trust for
tune is using us as we could wish?"
Yes, fortune is with us still, M. lie
Due" she answered, smiling brightly.
Indeed, the justice of our cause seems
to have inspired an unaccustomed con-
stancy in that tickle dame, and she has
decided to stay with us to the end"
II hope it may be So" And then,
turning to me, Permit me to present
my friend NJ. de Brancas. a young
man of stout heart who comes from
Poitiers to seek adventure in Paris, and
who, 1 see. has already fallen a victim
to our bright eyes"
I'm faith, 'twould take a much stout
er heart than mine to resist them" 1
protested, bowling over the hand she
gave me. land L wager mine is not the
first they have made captive.'
"oh. but the fckleness of men!"
exclaimed the girl, smiling at me not
%unkindly. To-day their hearts are
broken, tomorrow they are quite
healed. l know not by what wondrous
surgery. l believed that in the Cheva-
lier de Rey I had at last found a con-
slant man, but even he is failing me,
for his affection is decreasing regularly
in a geometrical ratio"
"A eeometrical ratio, mademoiselle?'
cried Richelieu. "And pray how do you
show that?"
Ills very easily shown" and her
eyes were sparkling with mischief.
"You know it has been the custom of
M. de Rey to accompany me home from
the salon of Madame de Tencin on
such occasions as I ave beer there re-
Gently, ana III the course or the jour-
ney we are compelled to cross the
Place des VICTORIES. In the first stages
of his passion M. de Rey would walk
me carefully aroun the sides OF this
square in order to make the journey
longer, but as his affection gradually
cooled he took a more direct course,
until. last night, he simply traversed it
in the middle. Hence I conclude that
his love has diminished in the same
proportion which exists between the
diagonal of a square and it's sides"
"Quod erat demonstrandumi" cried
Richelieu. II have never heard a geo.
metrical proposition explained more
clearly. But come, I have a word to
say to madame end must introduce my
protege to. her. You will excuse us,
mademoiselle? ~