awaiting transaction, as well as much of the important official business of the Legation. It was also necessary that he should be thoroughly au courant with the political

srupt Europe and caused Chatham's son to look with anxious eyes toward the East, while strengthening his hold in Holland. Poland, desperate, and struggling vainly to keep her place among European nations, was but a plaything in the hands of the Empress, aided by Prussia, who realized only

hts and gilded mirrors, he found it already filled with a company more splendid than any he had ever before seen. As he approached, he noticed that Mr. Jefferson was conversing with a large gentleman of pompous appearance, to whom he had just presented Mr. Morris, and to whom he presented Calvert in turn as "Monsieur Necker." 'Twas with a good deal of curiosity and disappointment that Calvert saw for the first time the Minister of Finance, the greatest power for the moment in France. He was a large, heavy man, whose countenance, with its high, retreating forehead, chin of unusual l

the merry twinkle in Mr. Morris's eye. But whatever their opinion of his talents, Monsieur Necker's cordiality was above reproach, and it was with elaborate politeness that he presented the Americans to Madame Necker. She was a very handsome woman still,

en disappointed in Monsieur Necker. It seemed as if the mediocre talents of the Minister of Finance had flamed into genius in this leonine creature who was as much her mother's inferior in looks as her father's superior in intelligence. Mingled with this masculinity of mind and appearance was an egotism, a coquetry, a directness of thought and action that combined to make a curious personality. It was amusing to note with what assiduity she showered her a

brilliant eyes and a smile that displayed a row of wonderfully white t

o conceal the ironical smile playing about his lips

ot meant to conceal her newly awakened interest in the distinguished-looking Ameri

this time laughing outright with the amusement he could no longer c

ed of as a constitution. My father is a great man, on whom the King and country depend for everything" ("In my life I never saw such exuberant vanity," thought Mr. Morris to himself), "but even he must fail at times if not supported by a reasonable constitution. You must co

vice that I lost my leg-'twas but a runaway accident with two fiery little ponies in Philadelphia! But, indeed," he goes on, still laug

, the noted English traveller, His Grace the Duc de Penthièvre, the richest and best noble of France, together with Monsieur de Montmorin, of the Foreign Affairs, and Monsieur de la Luzerne, Minister of Marine. Monsieur Houdon, the sculptor, was there, with a young poet named André Chenier, and later entered the daintily beautiful Madame de Sabran, followed by her devoted admirer, the Chevalier de Boufflers, abbé, soldier,

or example. I shall ask Madame Necker's permission to take you to her. But wait," he said, with a little laugh, and, laying a hand on Calvert's arm, "we are forestalled! See, Mr. Morris is just being presented," and he motioned to where a beautiful young woman sat, before whom Mr. Morris was making a most profound bow. Calvert thought

the evident intention of staying. "'Tis plain that the beautiful Madame de Flahaut has thrown her spell over him, and 'twill not do to break it just ye

inkled and powdered and painted though it was, was the face of one who had been beautiful and used to command. Her dark eyes were still brilliant and glittered humorously and shrewdly from beneath their bushy brows. The lean, vein

ight brows, at the crimson mouth, with its determined but lovely curves, at the cloud of dark hair about the white brow, it suddenly seemed to him as if the picture had never been out of his mind. "The Lass with the Delicate Air" was before him, but changed. The look of girlish immaturity was gone-replaced by an imperious decision of manner. A haughty, almost wayward, expression was on the s

urn to be presented to the ladies. The ceremony over, he and d'Azay greeted each other as old friends and comrades-in-arms are wont to do. They had scarce time to exchange a word, however, as Monsieur de Ségur,

membering Beaufort's words about him, a sudden pang shot through his breast as he saw the young girl turn aside with him to make a tour of the rooms. For, in truth, Monsieur le Baron de St. Aulaire was the epitome of all that was most licentious, most unworthy, most brilliant in the Old Order, and was known throughout the kingdom by reputation-or, more properly speaking, by lack of it. But in spite of his long life of dissipation and adventure (he had campaigned with the Swiss Guards at thirteen, and, though he was much past forty, looked like a man

ion of the young girl to the old Duchesse d'Azay sta

anner. "Ah, I wish we might see him again! I think there was never an ambassador so popular with us-snuff-boxes with his face upon them,

n, making his best bow, and which was very courtly and deferential,

Franklin himself. Ah! what a man," she went on, musingly; "'twas he who gave the Duchesse de Bourbon a lesson in chess! She put her king in prise and Monsieur Franklin promptly took it! 'But we do not take kings so,' cried Her Grace, furiously, for you may be sure she

no soil so fertile, no climate so delightful. I wish I might show you but one garden-spot of it-my Virginia-to prove to you, Madame, that I do not exaggerate when I sin

s no more about foreign affairs than does my coachman, but I wish with all my heart, Monsieur, that you had kept your revolution chez vous! 'Tis a fever, this revolution of yours, and our young men return from the war and spread the contagion. They clamor for new rights, for assemblies, for States-Generals-'twas that fever-stricken young Lafayette himself who demanded that, and, instead of being in attendance at court, as a young noble should be, he is buried in Auvergne, trying to get himself elected to his own States-General! Bah! w

moment, and then, with a languid shrug of his shoulders and a whimsical smile, "Your Grace was speaking of

stood thus, looking at each other, courteously on Calvert's part, curiously, almost challengingly, on the young girl's. It was Madame de St. André who broke the silence. When she spoke, her voice was exquisitely sweet and low, and her eyes became kind, and the artificial smile faded

s to see you." As she spoke, Calvert thought he had never heard anything so beautiful as the sou

talked together. That was at Monticello, where, indeed, I had the pleasure of making your a

them and who had overheard Calvert's last words, "d'Azay pro

was like a whole chime of them). "I had looked for something quite different," she went on, in a mock-disappointed tone, and with an amused glance at Beaufort. "Perhaps paint and feathers and

oked meaningly around at the bedaubed, bedecked ladies of fashion (though 'tis but fair to say that the young beauty before him disdained the use of furbelows or cosmetics, as well she might with

ting than-than-" And here she stopped as if in seeming embarrassment a

must know, since they have

out of Madame de St. André's face, and she resumed her

country from even the badinage of a spoilt young girl. "There is much learning and the most gracious manners to be found there, as

to that of ours?" contemptuously demanded St. Aulaire, who, up to tha

here can be no comparison, and surely you will acknowledge that a country

sked Monsieur de St. Aul

ject of so enlightened a state as you say France is would surely have

ad yours, since you ha

a contemptuous

ery day, Monsieur,"

e de St. André, "are all

presumptuous to admir

lent for fighting British cowards, a beggar who has not been turned away empty from our doors. Why, hasn't the whol

shington, Monsieur Calvert does well to admire him. The King admires him-can Monsieur de St. Aulaire do less? We are devoted royalists, but we can still respect and admire patriotism and genius under whatever government they flourish." She changed her tone of authority and accusation and turned to Calvert. Again the mask had been dropped, the eyes were once more kind, the voice and smile once mor

ing much disturbed and talking earnestly with Monsieur Necker, Monsieur le Comte de Montmorin, and Mr. Gouverneur Morris, who had at length left the s

he finances which alarm us! Obedience is not to be found anywhere.

esitating to join the group lest he should intrude on some imp

asked Calvert, in a low

son, smiling reassuringly. "Go and talk to Madame de

glass of wine and a few moments' quiet chat with Mr. Jefferson and Calvert. It was while they were thus engaged in the now deserted drawing-room that Mr. Jefferson told Calvert the cause of his perturbed look, which was none other than a conversation concerning the state of the kingdom confided to himself and

y will be charged to him. If he gets well through the business others will claim the reputation of what good is done by the States-General. If he is a r

warmly, both as a financier and statesman. Mr. Morris still clinging to his hastily formed opinion, the two gentlemen continued to argue the matter un

hat troubled his sleep that night. For the first time in his life the face of a woman haunted his dreams, now luring hi