The company gazed through the window, and began to laugh. There indeed was the horse of Jacques, splendid in all the colors of the rainbow, pawing and tossing his head as the groom led him away.
"A little romance of mine," said Jacques, smiling; "I trust 'tis not considered in bad taste—I had a crook——"
"A crook?"
"Yes, wreathed with flowers, as was the custom, I believe, in Arcadia; but I feared it would attract attention in the town, and I left it," said Jacques, with lamblike innocence.
This sally was greeted with tumultuous applause.
"A crook!" cried the damsels.
"An excellent idea!"
"So sylvan!"
"And so appropriate!"
"We may have as many as we fancy, I believe," said Jacques, smiling; "I have prepared a number as an introduction to the festival: they are in the garden, ladies, already wreathed with flowers!"