crowd. I should like
to hear _your_ candid opinion if you saw those two faces placed side by
side."

The response which Gaston made to this remark, and which expressed
certain convictions of his own, was not uttered aloud.

It is one of love's happy prerogatives that the countenance best beloved
gains to the lover's eye a charm beyond that with which any other face
is endowed, even when he is forced to admit _that_ dearest visage is
surpassed in point of positive, calculable, tangible beauty.

"A man may love a woman perfectly,
And yet by no means ignorantly maintain
A thousand women have not larger eyes:
Enough that she alone has looked at him
With eyes that, large or small, have won his soul."

CHAPTER XXI.

THE CYTHEREA OF FASHION.

Maurice had so unceremoniously parted from Lord Linden and M. de Bois
because he suddenly remembered that Mr. Lorrillard had impressed upon
him the necessity of making his arrangements with Mr. Emerson without
delay, as the present was a peculiarly favorable moment for purchasing
shares in the mines whose iron he hoped to convert to gold.

The viscount presented himself at Mr. Emerson's office, and delivered
Mr. Lorrillard's letter. This latter gentleman was held in such high
esteem that an introduction of his was certain of meeting with the
utmost consideration. Mr. Emerson, after only a brief conversation with
Maurice, informed him that he was ready to make the desired loan upon
the security offered, and begged that he would call the next morning,
when the necessary formalities would at once be gone through.

Gratified by his visit and elated by the prospect of effecting a
business transaction of so much importance, never dreaming of the fatal
sequence which might be the result, Maurice drove to the residence of
the French ambassador. It was not Madame de Fleury's reception-day, but
by some mistake he was ushered into her drawing-room. In a few minutes,
Lurline, a confidential _femme de chambre_, whom Maurice had often seen
in Paris,--a being all fluttering ribbons and alluring smiles and
graceful courtesies and coquettish airs,--made her appearance.

"Madame has received the card of monsieur _le vicomte_," she began, with
a sugary accent and soft manner, which reminded one strongly of the
tones and deportment of her mistress. "Madame would not treat monsieur
as a stranger, and therefore sent _me_,"--here, with her head on one
side, she courtesied