med a young
nobleman from the opposite table.

"You are right--fools--fools," answered de Praille, as he motioned to
the servants for more wine.

[Illustration: I WON'T GO ANNOUNCED LOUISE FIRMLY. YOU'LL MEET SOMEBODY,
GET MARRIED AND I'LL BE LEFT ALL ALONE.]

"By the way," asked the lady who had first spoken, "you have heard the
news?"

As no one had heard anything particularly new for the last two hours,
she continued by saying:

"They say that the new minister of police is as hard as a stone, and
cold as a fish. He is going to put a stop to all our amusements, and,
Marquis, this may be the last entertainment you will give at
Bel-Air."

"Nonsense!" exclaimed the host. "I'd like to see the minister of
police who would dare to interfere with the pleasures of a French
nobleman. Who and what is he?"

"He is from Touraine; is called the Count de Linieres, and is the
uncle of the Chevalier Maurice de Vaudrey."

"Where is the Chevalier?" suddenly asked one of the ladies, as she was
thus reminded of one whom report had described as rather eccentric,
and on whom she wished to exercise her charms. "You promised me I
should see him, Marquis."

"So I did, and I expect him, as well as another guest. I warn you,
ladies, that she will be the rival to you all."

"Who is the other guest?" was the question which assailed him from all
quarters.

"A young lady," answered the Marquis as if enraptured at the thought.
"Sweet sixteen, beautiful as a rose, and innocent as an angel."

"Where did you find such a pearl?" asked one of the ladies banteringly.

"In Normandy."

This announcement was followed by a titter from the feminine members
of the group.

"Yes, I know these Normandy beauties!" scorned one of the ladies,
betraying in spite of herself a tinge of jealousy.

"Rustics! Quite unpolished and de trop," chimed in another fair one,
cat-like in her verbal claws.

"Laugh away, ladies," said de Praille gayly. "You shall see a real
Norman beauty, and then see how jealous you will all become at sight
of her."

At this moment a noise was heard from the outside, and in the midst of
some confusion a rather singular voice was heard saying:

"I tell you I must go in, and I will. I must speak to your master."

On hearing this the Marquis went toward the entrance, and demanded of
the servants who this was who was so importunate.

"Picard," answered the owner of the singular voice. "Picard, valet to
the Chevalier de Vaud