Duplessis ere this had quitted his seat by the Minister, drawn thence by a young and very pretty girl resigned to his charge by a cavalier with whom she had been dancing. She was the only daughter of Duplessis, and he valued her even more than the millions he had made at the Bourse. "The Princess," she said, "has been swept off in the train of some German Royalty; so, petit pere, I must impose myself on thee."
The Princess, a Russian of high rank, was the chaperon that evening of
Mademoiselle Valerie Duplessis.
"And I suppose I must take thee back into the ballroom," said the financier, smiling proudly, "and find thee partners."
"I don't want your aid for that, Monsieur; except this quadrille, my list is pretty well filled up."
"And I hope the partners will be pleasant. Let me know who they are," he whispered, as they threaded their way into the ball-room.
The girl glanced at her tablet.
"Well, the first on the list is milord somebody, with an unpronounceable
English name."
"Beau cavalier?"
"No; ugly, old too; thirty at least."
Duplessis felt relieved. He did not wish his daughter to fall in love with an Englishman.