arquise stood watching him, and instantly taking
off his hat with a grand flourish, so that its long feather swept the
ground, made a very low obeisance, such as courtiers make to a queen;
then drew himself up proudly to his full height, and darting an ardent
glance of admiration and homage at the beautiful unknown, put on his
broad felt hat again and went composedly on his way. It was admirably
well done; a genuine cavalier, familiar with all the gallant usages in
vogue at court, could not have acquitted himself better. Flattered
by this mark of respect for her rank and admiration of her beauty, so
gracefully tendered, Mme. la Marquise could not help acknowledging it
by a slight bend of the head, and a little half suppressed smile.
These favourable signs did not escape Leander, who, with his usual
self-conceit, took a most exaggerated view of their import. He did not
for a moment doubt that the fair mistress of the chateau--for he took it
for granted it was she--had fallen violently in love with him, then and
there; he felt sure that he had read it in her eyes and her smile. His
heart beat tumultuously; he trembled with excitement; at last it had
come! the dream of his life was to be accomplished; he, the poor,
strolling player, had won the heart of a great lady; his fortune was
made! He got through the rehearsal to which he had been summoned as best
he might, and the instant it was over hastened back to his own room, to
indite an impassioned appeal to his new divinity, and devise some means
to insure its reaching her that same evening.

As everything was in readiness the play was to begin as soon as the
invited guests had all assembled. The orangery had been transformed into
a charming little theatre, and was brilliantly lighted by many clusters
of wax candles. Behind the spectators the orange trees had been arranged
in rows, rising one above the other, and filled the air with their
delicious fragrance. In the front row of seats, which was composed of
luxurious arm-chairs, were to be seen the beautiful Yolande de Foix, the
Duchesse de Montalban, the Baronne d'Hagemeau, the Marquise de Bruyres,
and many other titled dames, resplendent in gorgeous array, and vying
with each other in magnificence and beauty. Rich velvets, brilliant
satins, cloth of silver and gold, misty laces, gay ribbons, white
feathers, tiaras of diamonds, strings of pearls, superb jewels,
glittering in delicate shell-like ears, on white necks and roun