,
and reached the one at which we were expected. We knocked cautiously
at a door, which was opened to us with equal caution. Scarcely had we
entered, than Lebel came eagerly forward to receive us.

"Ah, madame!" cried he, "I began to fear you might not come, you have
been looked for with an impatience--"

"Which can hardly equal mine," interrupted I; "for you were prepared
for your visitor, whilst I have yet to learn who is the friend that so
kindly desires to see me."

"It is better it should be so," added Lebel; "do not seek either to
guess or discover more, than that you will here meet with some cheerful
society, friends of mine, who will sup at my house, but with whom
circumstances prevent my sitting down at table."

"How!" said I, with affected surprise, "not sup with us?"

"Even so," replied Lebel; and then added with a laugh, "_He_ and I sit
down to supper together! What an idea! No! you will find that just as
the guests are about to sit down at table, I shall suddenly be called
out of the room, and shall only return at the close of the repast."

All this was but of small import to me. Nevertheless, I affected to
regret the unavoidable absence of Lebel. In fact, I believe that the
first breath inspired at court is fraught with falsehood and deceit,
entirely destructive to every feeling of natural candor.

Lebel, with the most ceremonious gallantry, conducted me to a private
dressing-room, where I found several females waiting to assist me at
my toilet; I abandoned myself to their cares, which were, indeed, most
skilfully exercised in my behalf. They wrought wonders in my appearance,
bathing me after the Eastern fashion, adorning my hair and person, till
I issued from their hands blooming and beauteous as an houri.

When I returned to the room in which Lebel was expecting me, his
surprise was almost overpowering.

"You are, indeed," exclaimed he, "the new sun which is to rise upon
Versailles."

"Excellent!" cried I, laughing extravagantly, "but like the planet you
are pleased to compare me with, I must reserve my splendid rising till I
have obtained fresh powers from the aid of night."*

* _Mais avant de me lever il faut que je me couche_, is the
witty reply in the original, but which it is impossible to
render fully and piquantly through the dilution of a
translation.---tr.

The comte entered, and joined his congratulations upon the beauty of my
appearance; all at once the hasty