The Washington herald., 1912-12-22
By HENRY MoUNTJoY

as he kissed the tips of her fingers
and released her hand, this is an un-
expected pleasure"
"On my part, Madame" replied De
JoyeuSe, casting his eyes over his own
reflection in the long mirror on the
wall, the pleasure has been height
ened by expectancy"
He took his seat on the chair
Madame indicated and which gave him
full command of the mirror, crossed
his legs, played with his eyeglass, and
admired himself languidly while she
went on with the arrangement of her
flowers
And Mime. De Joyeuse," said the
baroness. how is shc?'
''Oh. ma fol-" replied this ideal hus-
band, i'll weary tone of voice. she
IS just the same as ever. Madame
siXty-two."
"Sixty-two! Why. I,would not have
guessed her for more than sixty when
| last met her. And do YOU always
herald your answers as to your wife's
health with a statement of her agc?"
Ma fol, yes. 1t saves trouble. Mon
sieur de Joyeuse, how is your wife?
Madame. she is sixty-two' Is not
that far shorter than saying: Thank
you, Madame, my wife has a touch
of the rheumatism, she is garrulous
with old age, and has the temper OF
a fend"
And you married your wife. Mon
sieur-"
For her money. Madame. an
frank. Otherwise | would be eternalIy
fighting duels to force down men:
throats the lie that my wife is eight
cen and that married her for her
face"
Monsieur" asked the baroness
gravely and in a solicitous voice. 81
trust you find that mirror comforta-
ble?"
Quite, Madame" replied the i'm,
pcrturbable De Joyeuse. at is almost d
perfect fit. though with regard to the
lighting Of the room, it is unhappily
placed
Poor mirrorw murmured Madame
Linden as il to herself. 1T seems &c
me it Is having very absurd reflection
cast upon il Now. see, | have nc
water for my flowers unless some one
fetches it for me. Dear Monsieur de-
Joyeuse. would you like to be tsefully
Employed"
No. Madame"
At this moment 4 tap came to the
door and Rosine entered with a ewer
of water.
Il have brought you the water fol-
the flowers, Madame"
you have saved Monsieur de Joyeust
from disturbing his reflection in tn,
mirror. Place the ever on the table
De Joyeusc ogled RoSine as sh,
Obeyed the baroness order and with
, drew. Then he rose from mis- char
My reflections are finished, Madame
May | assist you with your flowers .
Thank you" said she. IF it will moi
incommode YOUR color effect. you may
hold this rose" She handed him rose
lust as q person hands a child somC
trife to keep it quiet, continuing her
plan against De Sartines with one side
OF her mind while the other side oc.
cupied itself with the flowers ard De
JOyeuSe.
She could not imagine why he had
chosen 10 pay her this visit. nor did
she particularly try. This fashion-plate
that was still able to speak and walk
almost amused her: she scarcely placed
him in the category OF men Yet the
fashion plate. holding the rose to it,
nostrils. stood. watching her every
movement, studying the graceful lines
of her figure, approving her.
Your occupation reminds me OF the
latest ballade on the Du Barry. Ma
dame 1t is being circulated all over
Paris: the whole court is convulsed
and the king is furious"
AT the convulsions of the court 81
No, Madame, at the confusion OF
the Du Barry
Repeat me the ballade"
Madame. it is unprintable'
Ma fol. did not ask you to print
it. And since when. Monsieur, has il
been the custom of gallant Frenchmen
TO turn wCmcn to jest i'll ribald bal
ladies' and glory in the fact? I am an
Austrian, as you perhaps know. and
your customs are strange to me"
Il know nothing OF balladc writers,
Madame They live. | believe, in the
Rue du Truand and die in the bitches
of the tenple-if they are lucky
enough to escape the hangmen Of
Monsieur dc Sartines'