rtion of
us--pained, above all, Monseigneur, by indications that you had
sought and found friends in other ranks than those of your own high
station----'

'A bishop, Madame la Marquise--forgive my interruption--a bishop only
knows mankind as his brethren.' There was a malignant twinkle in his eye
as he spoke, that deprived the sentiment of all its charitable meaning.

'Fortune has been very unkind to you in certain members of your family,
Monseigneur,' said the Count de Noailles tartly.

'Younger branches, somewhat ill-cared-for and neglected,' said
Talleyrand dryly.

'Nay, Monseigneur, your Christian charity goes too far and too fast,'
said De Noailles. 'Our lackeys were never called our _freres cadets_
before.'

'What a charming dress, Madame de Langeac!' said the bishop, touching
a fold of the rich silk with a veneration he might have bestowed on a
sacred relic.

'The favourite colour of the Queen, Monseigneur,' said she pointedly.

'Lilac is the emblem of hope; her Majesty is right to adopt it,' was the
quick response.

'Is that like Monsieur de Mirabeau, Monseigneur?' said the Duc de Valmy,
as he handed a coarse engraving to the bishop.

'There is a certain resemblance, unquestionably. It is about as like
him--as--as--what shall I say--as the general estimate of the man is to
the vast resources of his immense intelligence!'

'Immense intelligence!' exclaimed the Marquise de Bauf-fremont. 'I could
more readily believe in his immense profligacy.'

'You might assent to both, Madame, and yet make no great mistake, save
only that the one is passing away, the other coming,' said Talleyrand
courteously.

'Which is the rising, which the setting sun, Monseigneur?' said De
Valmy.

'I sincerely trust it may not shock this distinguished company if I say
that it is the dawn of intellect, and the last night of incapacity,
we are now witnessing. You have heard that this gentleman has seen the
king?'

'Mirabeau been received by his Majesty!' 'Mirabeau admitted to the
presence!' exclaimed three or four, in tones of utter incredulity.

'I can be positive as to the fact,' resumed the bishop. 'I can be even
more--I can tell this honourable company what passed at the interview.
It was, then, last night--(thank you, Monsieur le Duc, I accept your
chair, since it allows me a more convenient spot to speak from)--it was
last night, at a late hour, that a messenger arrived at the Avenue
aux Abois with an order--I suppos