en
carriage, with white-and-blue wheels, drawn by four superb horses,
of cream color, with black manes, and harness glittering with silver
ornaments, mounted by two boy postilions of equal size, with black
velvet caps, light-blue cassimere jackets with white collars, buckskin
breeches, and top-boots; two tall, powdered footmen, also in light-blue
livery, with white collars and facings, being seated in the rumble
behind.

No equipage could have been turned out in better style. The horses, full
of blood, spirit, and vigor, were skillfully managed by the postilions,
and stepped with singular regularity, gracefully keeping time in their
movements, champing their bits covered with foam, and ever and anon
shaking their cockades of blue and white silk, with long floating ends,
and a bright rose blooming in the midst.

A man on horseback, dressed with elegant simplicity, keeping at the
other side of the avenue, contemplated with proud satisfaction
this equipage which he had, as it were, created. It was M. de
Bonneville--Adrienne's equerry, as M. de Montbron called him--for the
carriage belonged to that young lady. A change had taken place in the
plan for this magic day's amusement. M. de Montbron had not been able to
deliver Mdlle. de Cardoville's note to Prince Djalma. Faringhea had told
him that the prince had gone that morning into the country with Marshal
Simon, and would not be back before evening. The letter should be given
him on his arrival. Completely satisfied as to Djalma, knowing that
he could find these few lines, which, without informing him of the
happiness that awaited him, would at least give him some idea of it,
Adrienne had followed the advice of M. de Montbron, and gone to the
drive in her own carriage, to show all the world that she had quite
made up her mind, in spite of the perfidious reports circulated by the
Princess de Saint Dizier, to keep to her resolution of living by herself
in her own way. Adrienne wore a small white bonnet, with a fall of
blonde, which well became her rosy face and golden hair; her high
dress of garnet-colored velvet was almost hidden beneath a large green
cashmere shawl. The young Marchioness de Morinval, who was also very
pretty and elegant, was seated at her right. M. de Montbron occupied the
front seat of the carriage.

Those who know the Parisian world, or rather, that imperceptible
fraction of the world of Paris which goes every fine, sunny day to the
Champs Elysees, to