"He is a picture," exclaimed Mademoiselle de Richeval.
"A man, Mademoiselle," returned de Bailleul warmly.
"Has he a fortune then, Chevalier?" she laughed.
"Perhaps he shall have mine," quizzed the old soldier.
"He must come with us to Versailles, Chevalier," said the Princess. "So agreeable a person will be indispensable to me."
Germain, dallying behind the Chevalier, approached the foot of the terrace steps.
"Monsieur-Germain," she cried to him, "will you do me the honour of returning to Versailles with us?"
What could the poor fellow do but thank her with his profoundest bow, though the situation set his head in a whirl.
"Is it the pleasure of Madame that I should read?" interrupted a harsh and ruffled voice. The Princess, for reply, took out of her work-bag a book of devotions and handed it to the Abbé. He received it with a cringing bow, but as he glanced at it a suggestion of repugnance flitted across his lips. "Or does she care first to hear the trifle of news which I brought from Fontainebleau?"
"What, have you dared conceal a scandal so long, Abbé? Let us have it instantly," cried the Canoness.