cort Margaret from
the palace they remained mute.

Yet for those who enjoy idle shows it was a pretty spectacle. Charles,
Henry, and Conde, with some idea perhaps of showing their affection for
each other, were all dressed alike, in pale yellow satin, embroidered
with silver, and adorned with pearls and precious stones. Anjou, who was
even more magnificently attired, had a set of thirty-two pearls in his
toque, while the noble dames were gorgeous in rich brocades, and velvets
interwoven with gold and silver.

"If the people had their way," whispered Felix, as the grand cavalcade
swept by, "Henry would be going to his funeral instead of to his
marriage, and there would be few of us left to mourn him."

From the Bishop's palace to the pavilion stretched a raised covered
platform, and presently there was a slight craning of necks, and the
citizens showed some faint interest, as the head of the bridal
procession appeared in sight.

First came the archbishops and bishops in their copes of cloth of gold;
then the cardinals in their scarlet robes, and the Knights of St.
Michael, their breasts glittering with orders; but not a cheer was
raised until young Henry of Guise appeared, when it was easy to tell who
was the favourite of the Parisians.

I regarded him with much interest. He was only twenty-two years old;
tall and handsome, with a lissom figure and an air of easy grace that
became him well. His eyes were keen and bright; he wore a light beard,
and a profusion of curly hair. Altogether, he looked a very dashing and
accomplished nobleman.

"There she is!" cried Felix suddenly; "do you see her? Could any one
look more lovely?"

"She is certainly magnificent."

"Bah!" he interrupted in disgust, "you are looking at Margaret. 'Tis
Jeanne I am speaking of--your sister. Edmond, you are more blind than a
mole!"

There really was some excuse for his extravagant praise, for even
amongst that galaxy of beauty Jeanne shone with a loveliness all her
own, and Felix was not the only one of my comrades to declare that she
was the most beautiful of all that glittering throng.

But the centre of attraction was Margaret herself, still only a girl of
twenty, with a beautifully clear complexion and bright black eyes full
of fire and spirit. She was truly a royal bride, gracious, dignified,
queenly Magnificent brilliants sparkled in her glossy hair; her
stomacher was set with lustrous pearls; her dress was of cloth of gold,
and g