[CHAPTER XI.]
A MARVEL OF MAGIC.
Humble was Balsamo's bow; but immediately raising his intelligent and expressive brow, he fixed his clear eye, though with respect, on the chief guest, silently waiting for her to question him.
"If you are the person Baron Taverney has mentioned, pray draw nigh that we may see what a magician is like."
Balsamo came a step nearer and bowed to Marie Antoinette.
"So you make a business of foretelling?" said the latter, sipping the milk while regarding the new comer with more curiosity than she liked to betray.
"I make no business of it, but I do foretell, please your royal highness?" was the answer.
"Educated in an enlightened faith, we place faith solely in the mysteries of our religion."
"Undoubtedly they are worthy of veneration," responded the other dialoguist with a profound congé. "But the Cardinal de Rohan here, though Prince of the Church, will tell you that they are not the only ones worthy of respect."
The cardinal started, for his title had not been announced.
Not appearing to notice this revelation, Marie Antoinette pursued: