sent sunshine, cared nothing for the dark clouds that might arise in
the future.

The streets were thronged with pleasure-seekers, and at night I could
scarcely reach the Luxembourg for the crowd. It was a pleasant crowd,
however, totally unlike the surly threatening mob I had twice seen and
did not wish to see again. No one quarrelled; nothing constituted a
cause for anger; the nearest approach to ill-humour being a
reproachful, "Oh, monsieur, you trod on my foot!" from a pretty girl to
a stout citizen, who offered a thousand apologies for his clumsiness,
and was charmingly pardoned.

At the Luxembourg itself the crowds and the good-humour were repeated.
The courtyard was filled with gorgeous equipages, brilliantly dressed
lackeys, guards, musketeers, gigantic Swiss soldiers, in all
descriptions of uniform. I smiled at the vague nature of Raoul's
invitation. Certainly I had come to the Luxembourg, but to find my
friend was another matter. A few days previously I should have gone
away in despair, but Paris had begun my education, and, instead of
turning back, I walked towards the grand staircase.

A yellow carriage had drawn up at the entrance, and two ladies
descended from it. I moved aside to let them pass, when one, a
beautiful woman, with laughing eyes, exclaimed, "M. de Lalande!"

I had sufficient presence of mind to make a profound bow, when the fair
stranger cried with a merry laugh, "Give me your arm. What new trick
is this? What are you doing here?"

"I am looking for M. Beauchamp."

"He is a nice boy, but I did not know that you and he were fond of each
other."

"We are very old friends, madame."

We had reached the first landing, and were waiting for the people in
front to pass on, when I answered, and the lady, looking very hard at
me, exclaimed, "Why, what is the meaning of this? Surely you are, and
yet are not, M. de Lalande?"

"I expect, madame, that you have mistaken me for my cousin Henri. My
name is Albert."

"Why, then, you belong to Mazarin's party! I have heard of you. Do
you know that you have done us much mischief? But there, a truce to
quarrelling," and, keeping me at her side, she entered a magnificent
salon ablaze with light and colour.

I was gazing with delight at the scene when my companion exclaimed with
a smile, "Mazarin has not destroyed us all yet, it seems. But there is
M. Beauchamp! Raoul, come here, you naughty boy! Here is a friend of
yours from the opp