Evening star., 1928-05-21

! gown. The chevalier presented the
letter.
She seized it eagerly and tore open
! the seal. 1t bore good news. 1t was the
letter which told the Marquise de POM
padour that she was from then on a
lady of the palace to the Queen.
The chevalier was bold to plead his
own case Picking up the self f-same fan
/ he had restored TO her hand at Ver-
/ Sailles. he used it to identify him. She
| recognized him, and when she learned
/ his name she knew the commission he
| sought and whom he wished to marry.
| But she could not understand why he
| had come to her. instead of to the King.
Madame. I understand that men eX-
ercise power, but women"
Women guide it, do you Think"
| asked Pompadour, not i'll pleased,
Yes"
But there is a Queen of France" she
said
II know it," said the chevalier, land
that Is why came here today"
Used to such compliments. Pompadour
nevertheless was pleased by this one.
She was flattered by this admission of
her power over the King The outcome
OF it was that she decided TO send the
chevalier as her messenger TO the King
and also TO plead his cause with his
ma iesty.
AS she finished her letter, the mar
qutse made slight movement which
slipped her gown from her shoulder.
Now, fashion Is strange. Sometimes 1t
is deemed immodest to display a bare
shoulder. So 1t was then-and on the
delicate white shoulder OF the favorite
the cheyaiier saw a little black beauty
spot, q mole. like some fy floating in a
saucer OF milk.
Bidding him adieu, Pompadour had a
last word
Remember that beauty spot you have
just seen" she said. though it was by
accident. The King Is the only other
man who has ever seen IL. But do not
speak OF 1t aloud. Good-by"
Some days later there was a masked
ball at court. Chevalier Vauvert was in
vited-by the Marquise de Pompadour
During the evening he was accosted by
two masked women. exactly alike, who
piled him with questions
He was OIL good terms with Pompa-
dour. was he not? The chevalier feigned
ignorance. They insisted He denied
any knowledge whatever of their sub
iect. But he knew that a page had
fallen from his horse at Pompadour's IS
chateau? Yes. And he had entered
the chateau In the pages place? Ger
tainly. And he took paper from Pom
padour 10 the King? Asgurcdly, he did.
But the marauise had been along? Yes,
she was alone. She was clad only in a
dressing gown? That was rnn1or, he
said. Such Idle speeches amazed and
offended him.
But pompadour had enemies. If the
chevaiier could be persuaded 10 make
capital Of his slight but admitted knowl-
edge Of the marguise--and the beauty
spot on her sboulder--she might be re-
moved from power But the chevalier
became angry al such an implication.
He protested that his capacity was only
as messenger, altogether impers0nal---
ne would even sacrifice his commission
in the guards rather than take part in
/ such an infamous plot
/ Later one Of the masks came back
/ She asked him II he had changed his
/ mind. He had not.
/ Then there IL your cOmmissio aad
/ your marriage contract she said,
| laughing, tossing him her fan.
IL vas the fan Of Pompadour.
/ Madame, he said. Il shall know
! how 70 thank
1T is all right she said, lifting her
mask little. 1t was good you know
/ how 10 hold your tongue II need be
! Forgive ns II before giving you In mar
riage ~ the noble lady you love we
/ thought IL best 70 find out how loyal
/ you could be IL occasion demanded"