uite
forgetting that he had any ceremonious duty to perform. Ronald, who from
the time he had watched beside the viscount's sick-bed had not
relinquished his friendly _surveillance_, noticed his absence of mind,
and, as he passed him, whispered,--

"My dear fellow, what is the matter? You are dreaming again. Rouse
yourself! Some young lady must be waiting for your arm."

"Ronald," exclaimed Maurice, "something very singular has happened.
Madame de Fleury is wearing Madeleine's family jewels!"

"Bravo! That is cheering news, indeed! You will certainly be able to
trace her now,--never fear! But you must get through this dinner first;
so pray collect your scattered senses as expeditiously as possible."

Elated by these words of encouragement, and the hilarious tone in which
they were uttered, Maurice shook off his musing mood, and proffered his
arm to the niece of Madame de Fleury, whom he now remembered that the
marquis had desired him to conduct.

During the dinner this young lady pronounced the handsome cavalier, who
had been assigned to her, tantalizingly _distrait_, and secretly wished
that the artistic _maitre d'hotel_ of her aunt had decorated the table
with a less novel and attractive central ornament; for it seemed to her
that the eyes of Maurice were constantly turned upon the miniature
cherry-tree, of forced hot-house growth, that rose from a mossy mound
in the centre of the festive board. The diminutive tree was covered with
superb fruit, and girdled in by a circle of Liliputian grape-vines, each
separate vine trained upon a golden rod, and heavily laden with luscious
grapes, bunches of the clearest amber alternating with the deepest
purple and richest crimson. Among the mosses of the mound were scattered
the rarest products of the most opposite seasons; those of the present
season being too natural to pamper the artificial tastes of luxury.
Truly, the arrangement was a charming exemplification of nature made
subservient to art; but was it this magnet to which the eyes of Maurice
were so irresistibly attracted? He chanced to be seated where his view
of the hostess was partially intercepted by the hot-house wonder, and he
was seeking in vain to catch a glimpse of those jewels which had been
Madeleine's.

Bertha was placed nearer the marchioness, and the Duke de Montauban
could not help noticing that her gaze was frequently fixed upon his
sister; but being one of those men who are thoroughly convinced that