t. But all
the state apartments are now on the second floor, and Madame Bonaparte
has her own rooms below. Evidently she knows nothing of the secrets of
the place. The queen kept her most beautiful robes in that closet. It
has no visible door. The wall opens. And we have heard that a door was
made through the back of it to let upon a spiral staircase of stone, and
through this the royal family made their escape to Varennes, when they
were arrested and brought back."

We fell into silence at mention of the unsuccessful flight which could
have changed history; and she rose and said--"Good-night, sire."

Next morning there was such a delicious world to live in that breathing
was a pleasure. Dew gauze spread far and wide over the radiant domain.
Sounds from cattle, and stables, and the voices of servants drifted on
the air. Doves wheeled around their towers, and around the chateau
standing like a white cliff.

I walked under the green canopy watching the sun mount and waiting for
Madame de Ferrier. When she did appear the old man who had served her
father followed with a tray. I could only say--"Good-morning, madame,"
not daring to add--"I have scarcely slept for thinking of you."

"We will have our coffee out here," she told me.

It was placed on the broad stone seat under the arch of the pavilion
where we sat the night before; bread, unsalted butter from the farms,
the coffee, the cream, the loaf sugar. Madame de Ferrier herself opened
a door in the end of the wall and plunged into the dew of the garden.
Her old servant exclaimed. She caught her hair in briers and laughed,
tucking it up from falling, and brought off two great roses, each the
head and the strength of a stem, to lay beside our plates. The breath of
roses to this hour sends through my veins the joy of that.

Then the old servant gathered wall fruit for us, and she sent some in
his hand to Paul. Through a festooned arch of the pavilion giving upon
the terraces, we saw a bird dart down to the fountain, tilt and drink,
tilt and drink again, and flash away. Immediately the multitudinous
rejoicing of a skylark dropped from upper air. When men would send
thanks to the very gate of heaven their envoy should be a skylark.

Eagle was like a little girl as she listened.

"This is the first day of September, sire."

"Is it? I thought it was the first day of creation."

"I mention the date that you may not forget it. Because I am going to
give you something t