dered
though of modest proportions; his every item of apparel appeared alike
of great simplicity and barren of pretentiousness. As much might be said
for the garb of his brother, who stepped close behind him, a figure less
self-contained than that of the man who now occupied the absorbed
attention of the public mind, even as he now filled the eager eyes of
those who turned to greet his entrance.

"Ah, Monsieur L'as, Monsieur L'as!" exclaimed Philippe of Orleans,
stepping forward to welcome him and taking the hand of Law in both his
own. "You are welcome, you are very welcome indeed. The soup will be
with us presently, and the wine of Ai is with us now. You and your
brother are with us; so all at last is well. These ladies are, as I
believe, all within your acquaintance. You have been present at the
_salon_ of Madame de Tencin. You know her Grace the Duchesse de Falari,
recently Madame d'Artague? Mademoiselle de Caylus you know very well,
and of course also Mademoiselle Aisse, _la belle Circassienne_--But
what? _Diable_! Have you too gone mad? Come, is the sight of my guest
too much for you also, Monsieur L'as?"

There was irritation in the tone with which the regent uttered this
protest, yet he continued.

"Monsieur L'as, 'tis but a little surprise I had planned for you.
Mademoiselle, my princess of the Messasebe, let me present Monsieur Jean
L'as, king of the Messasebe, and hence your sovereign! This is my fair
unknown, whose face I have promised you should see to-night--this,
Monsieur L'as, is my princess, the one whom I have seen fit to honor
this evening by the wearing of the chief gem of France."

The regent fumbled for an instant at his fob. He stepped to the side of
the faltering figure which stood arrayed in all its savage finery. One
movement, and upon the dark locks which fell about her brow there blazed
the unspeakable fires of a stone whose magnificence brought forth
exclamations of awe from every person present.

"See!" cried Philippe of Orleans. "'Twas on the advice and by the aid of
Monsieur L'as that I secured the gem, whose like is not known in all the
world. 'Tis chief of the crown jewels of the realm of France, this
stone, now to be known as the regent's diamond. And now, as regent of
France and master for a day of her jewels, I place this gem upon the
brow of her who for this night is to be your queen of beauty!"

The wine of Ai had already done part of its work. There were brightened
eyes, ea