hem more beautiful.

"Because long ago I promised to work for these pretty lips, and
because"--

"Because you did not keep your promise until to-day; is that it?" asked
Charlotte.

"Until to-day?" repeated Rene.

"Yes; it was only to-day, in fact, this evening, that I received the box
you sent me."

"Ah! indeed!" said Rene, looking strangely at the small opiate box on
Madame de Sauve's table, which was precisely like those he had in his
shop. "I thought so!" he murmured. "And you have used it?"

"No, not yet. I was just about to try it as you entered." Rene's face
assumed a dreamy expression which did not escape Henry. Indeed, very few
things escaped him.

"Well, Rene, what are you going to do now?" asked the king.

"I? Nothing, sire," said the perfumer, "I am humbly waiting until your
majesty speaks to me, before taking leave of Madame la Baronne."

"Come, now!" said Henry, smiling. "Do you need my word to know that it
is a pleasure to me to see you?"

Rene glanced around him, made a tour of the room as if to sound the
doors and the curtains with his eye and ear, then he stopped and
standing so that he could embrace at a glance both Madame de Sauve and
Henry:

"I do not know it," said he, thanks to that admirable instinct which
like a sixth sense guided him during the first part of his life in the
midst of impending dangers. Henry felt that at that moment something
strangely resembling a struggle was passing through the mind of the
perfumer, and turned towards him, still in the shadow, while the
Florentine's face was in the light.

"You here at this hour, Rene?" said he.

"Am I unfortunate enough to be in your majesty's way?" asked the
perfumer, stepping back.

"No, but I want to know one thing."

"What, sire?"

"Did you think you would find me here?"

"I was sure of it."

"You wanted me, then?"

"I am glad to have found you, at least."

"Have you something to say to me?" persisted Henry.

"Perhaps, sire!" replied Rene.

Charlotte blushed, for she feared that the revelation which the perfumer
seemed anxious to make might have something to do with her conduct
towards Henry. Therefore she acted as though, having been wholly
engrossed with her toilet, she had heard nothing, and interrupted the
conversation.

"Ah! really, Rene," said she, opening the opiate box, "you are a
delightful man. This cake is a marvellous color, and since you are here
I am going to honor you by experimenting with y