country." The lady was pensive for a space,
hesitated in a pretty perplexity and then spoke doubtfully.

"You can be of a service to me if you will."

I immediately signified my willingness to render her aid, in the
courtliest speech I could muster. She looked at me long and seriously
again, then again pursued the subject of her thought.

"It is a mere woman's whim, but _I_ gratify _my_ whims. Perchance it
is not a proper wish for a lady of birth, yet I have it, and if you
will but aid me, I will carry it through."

Moved as much by curiosity as by any other motive, I inquired of her
what so weighty a matter could be.

"Come, let us go into this ante-room that we may converse undisturbed,"
she said, and led me into a quiet corner where there were seats. I
would have thoughtlessly taken a place by her side, forgetful of
Jerome's teachings, but she commanded coldly:

"Monsieur will stand."

And I stood.

"You are a stranger in Paris, you seem a man of honor; for those
reasons I choose you. I would not care to have one of my own gentlemen
know what I wish to do. All Paris would talk of it to-morrow. We in
the palace see naught of the common people, and I have long dreamed it
would be a brave adventure to go unknown among them, to their inns and
gathering places. I have always desired to know more of our Paris,
especially one place which I hear mentioned frequently of late. My
position will not permit me to visit it openly--you understand."

I protested that knowing naught of the streets I should be but a blind
guide.

"I know where I would go," she said, determinedly, brushing aside the
difficulties I would suggest, "and I will go; you will go too."

I was vastly troubled at this, for might it not lead to such another
escapade as came so near costing me dear? Her eyes fixed full upon me,
her voice blended a command which no man dared disobey, with an
entreaty which none would willingly run counter to, and I gave
reluctant assent.

"Will you await me here?" she demanded rather than asked. "My
apartments are in this building. I will return very briefly."

When the lady came back she would never have been taken for a woman;
her long cloak, such as men wore, reached to her boots, identical in
all respects with my own. Her hat, plume and sword were correct and
bravely worn. Her maid, a trifle nervous over the adventure, but who
said nothing, bore a similar cloak for me, and held two masks in her
h