at he at once opened the whole negotiation of the
ball to O'Grady, describing with a Frenchman's volubility and sarcasm
the stratagems and devices which were employed to obtain invitations,
the triumph of the successful, the despairing malice of the
unfortunate--heightening his narrative by the mystery of the fair
hostess, who, herself unknown and unheard of till now, was at this
moment at the pinnacle of fashion, dictating the laws and distributing
the honours of the beau monde to the greatest sovereigns of Europe.

'She is very beautiful, no doubt?' asked O'Grady.

'Oui, pas mal,' said Grammont, with that all-explaining shrug of the
shoulders by which a foreigner conveys so much.

'Very rich, perhaps?'

'Millionaire!' said the Frenchman, in a tone of exultation that bespoke
his full acquiescence in that surmise at least.

'And her rank?'

'Ah, I don't read riddles. All I know is, her house is the best thing at
Paris; she has secured old Cambaceres' _chef de cuisine_; has bought up
the groom of the chambers of the ex-Emperor; keeps an _estafette_ going
on the Strasbourg road for _pates de foie gras_; and is on such terms
with the sovereigns that she has their private bands to play at all her
parties. Que voulez-vous?'

'Nothing more, indeed!' said O'Grady, laughing. 'Such admirable
supremacy in the world of _bon ton_ it would be rank heresy to
question further, and I no longer wonder at the active canvass for her
invitations.'

'Oui, parbleu!' said the Frenchman gaily. 'If Monsieur the Comte
d'Artois does not exert himself, people will be more proud of a ticket
to these balls than of the Croix de St. Louis. For my own part, I think
of wearing mine over the cordon.'

As he spoke, he flourished his card of invitation in the air, and
displayed it in his bosom.

'Madame de Roni, nee Cassidy de Kilmainham,' said O'Grady, bursting into
a perfect roar of laughter. 'This is glorious, Jack! Did you see this?'

'See! eh? to be sure; and what then?'

But O'Gradys mirth had burst all bounds, and he sat back in an arm-chair
laughing immoderately. To all our questions he could give no other reply
than renewed bursts of merriment, which, however enjoyed by himself,
were very provoking to us.

'He knows her,' whispered Grammont in my ear; 'be assured he knows
Madame.'

'Jack, where shall we meet in half an hour?' said Phil at length,
jumping up and wiping his eyes.

'Here, if you like,' said I. 'I shall not leave t