," said he, giving me a letter, "read, Jeannette: victory is ours.
News from Morand. Lebel is coming to Paris, and will dine with us. Are
we alone?"

"No, there are two of your countrymen whom you invited yesterday."

"I will write and put them off. Morand alone must dine with Lebel; he
ought to have a place at the feast which he furnishes with such good
music. Come, my dear girl, we touch the moment of importance, it is in
your beauty and power of pleasing that I place all my hopes. I think
I may rely on you; but, above all, do not forget that you are my
sister-in-law."

"Brother-in-law," said I, laughing, "it is not unnecessary that I should
know decidedly to which of family I am married? The custom in France is
not that a woman be the undivided property of three brothers."

"That only happens in Venice," replied the comte; "my brother Elie is
too young, you must be the wife of Guillaume, my second brother."

"Very well; I am the comtesse Guillaume du Barry; that does famously
well; we like to know whom we are married to."

After this conversation, comte Jean insisted on presiding at my
toilette. He acquitted himself of the task, with a most laughable
attention. During two good hours, at least, he tormented first
Henriette, and then the female hairdresser, for I had not yet followed
the mode, which began to be very general, of having my hair dressed by a
man. Comte Jean passed alternately from my dressing-room to the kitchen.
He knew Lebel was a gallant and a gourmand, and he was anxious to please
him in all senses at once.

At one o'clock I was under arms, and prepared to receive him on whom
my destiny depended. As soon as I reached the drawing-room, comte Jean
compelled me to submit to the test of a rigid examination.

His serious air amused me much as he gazed at me some time in solemn
silence. At length his forehead relaxed, a smile of satisfaction played
on his lips, and extending his arms to me, without venturing to touch
me, "You are charming, divine," he said; "Lebel ought to go and hang
himself if he does not fall down at your knees."

Soon afterwards the folding-doors were hastily opened, and a servant
announced M. Lebel, _premier de sa Majeste_, with M. Morand. The comte
went to meet the arrivals, and as I now saw Lebel for the first time, he
presented him to me formally.

"Sister, this is M. Lebel, _premier de sa Majeste _, who has done us the
honor to come and dine with us."

"And he confers