"Pray
consider yourself invited to all the fetes at court and to all our
entrees and receptions, and I hope that all will do their best to
make your stay here agreeable."
Then with a slight inclination of the head he passed on, saying in
an audible tone to the nobles who walked next, but a little behind
him, "This is not such a bear as are his island countrymen in
general!"
"In another hour, Rupert, is the evening reception, at which the
ladies of the court will be present; and although all set fetes
have been arrested owing to the news of the defeat in Flanders, yet
as the king chooses to put a good face upon it, everyone else will
do the same, therefore you may expect a brilliant assembly. Adele
will of course be there. Shall I introduce you, or leave it to
chance?"
"I would rather you left it to chance," Rupert said, "except, that
as you do not desire it to be known that we have met before, it
would be better that you should present me personally; but I should
like to see if she will recognize me before you do so."
"My daughter is a young lady of the court of his most puissant
Majesty Louis the 14th," the marquis said, somewhat bitterly, "and
has learned not to carry her heart upon her sleeve. But before you
show yourself near her, I will just warn her by a word that a
surprise may take place in the course of the evening, and that it
is not always expedient to recognize people unless introduced
formally.
Pages:
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262