r cease to strive to please his angels? Now,
my children, accept the blessing of your father Philippe, your friend,
who, though years may multiply upon him, retains in his heart, none the
less, for each and all of you, those sentiments of passion and of
admiration which constitute for him his dearest memories! Ladies, I pray
you be seated. I pray you tarry not too long before proving the judgment
of Bechamel in regard to this new vintage of Ai."

"Ah, your Grace," exclaimed De Tencin, "were it not Philippe of Orleans,
we women might not be apt to sit in peace together. Yet, as we have
earlier proved your hospitality, we may perhaps not scruple to
continue."

Philippe smiled blandly. The remark was not ill-fitted to the actual
case. Though the regent counted his sweethearts by scores, he dismissed
the one with the same air of interest as he welcomed the other, and
indeed ended by retaining all as his friends.

"Madame de Tencin, in admiration there can be no degrees," said he. "In
love there can be no rank."

"Why, then, do you place as your chief guest this other, this unknown?"
pouted Mademoiselle Aisse, as she seated herself, turning upon her host
the radiance of her large, dark eyes. "Is this stranger, then, so
passing fair?"

"Not so fair as you, my lovely Haidee, that I may swear, and safely,
since she is not yet present. Yet I announce to you that she is _tres
interessante_, my unknown queen of beauty, my _belle sauvage_ from
America. But see! Here she comes. 'Tis time for her to appear, and not
keep our guests in waiting."

There sounded at the back of the great hall the tinkle of a little bell
of some soft metal. It approached, and with it the sweeping stir of
heavy silken garb. The door opened, admitting a still greater blaze of
light, and there swept into the hall, as though swimming upon the flood
of this added brilliance, a figure striking enough to arouse attention
even at that time and place, even among the beauties of the court of
France. There advanced, calm and stately, with the gliding ease of a
perfect carriage, the figure of a woman, slender, with full bright eyes
and somber hair--so much might be seen at a glance. Yet the newcomer
left somewhat of query in the mind of womankind accustomed to view in
detail any costume.

The stranger was enveloped in a wide and undefining garment, a sweeping
robe fit for any duchess of the realm, whose flowing folds showed a
magnificent tissue of silver embr