a mirror to judge of its general effect.

"I am horrible to-night," she said, as though she were surrounded by
flatterers. "I look like a statue of Liberty."

She placed the dagger carefully in her bosom leaving the rubies in the
hilt exposed, their ruddy reflections attracting the eye to the hidden
beauties of her shape. Francine could not bring herself to leave her
mistress. When Marie was ready she made various pretexts to follow her.
She must help her to take off her mantle, and the overshoes which the
mud and muck in the streets compelled her to wear (though the roads had
been sanded for this occasion); also the gauze veil which Mademoiselle
de Verneuil had thrown over her head to conceal her features from the
Chouans who were collecting in the streets to watch the company. The
crowd was in fact so great that they were forced to make their way
through two hedges of Chouans. Francine no longer strove to detain her
mistress, and after giving a few last touches to a costume the greatest
charm of which was its exquisite freshness, she stationed herself in the
courtyard that she might not abandon this beloved mistress to her fate
without being able to fly to her succor; for the poor girl foresaw only
evil in these events.

A strange scene was taking place in Montauran's chamber as Marie was on
her way to the ball. The young marquis, who had just finished dressing,
was putting on the broad red ribbon which distinguished him as first
in rank of the assembly, when the Abbe Gudin entered the room with an
anxious air.

"Monsieur le marquis, come quickly," he said. "You alone can quell a
tumult which has broken out, I don't know why, among the leaders. They
talk of abandoning the king's cause. I think that devil of a Rifoel
is at the bottom of it. Such quarrels are always caused by some mere
nonsense. Madame du Gua reproached him, so I hear, for coming to the
ball ill-dressed."

"That woman must be crazy," cried the marquis, "to try to--"

"Rifoel retorted," continued the abbe, interrupting his chief, "that if
you had given him the money promised him in the king's name--"

"Enough, enough; I understand it all now. This scene has all been
arranged, and you are put forward as ambassador--"

"I, monsieur le marquis!" said the abbe, again interrupting him. "I am
supporting you vigorously, and you will, I hope, do me the justice to
believe that the restoration of our altars in France and that of the
king upon the throne