even on the jewels which her mother had taken pains to display to advantage; she seemed intent only upon placing in a conspicuous spot the small trinket which she held in her hand.

He was

M. de Bonneval had been spending some days at a friend's villa. getting heartily tired of Paris and its society. His visits to the Hotel de Biron had been of late both few and short. But Madame de Gontaut, who had met him the day before at the royal hunt, had taken occasion to describe to to describe to him the brilliant display of bridal presents which had made the old hotel of the Faubourg St. Germain almost as dazzling, she said, as the Duc d'Aumont's House of Gold.'

1 The Duc d'Aumont was famous for his reck

less extravagance. During his father's life-time he hired a house, which he fitted up entirely

with gold. His stables were wainscoated with

oak, and ornamented with costly china.

row.

She had obtained from him the promise that he would come there on the morJudithe had repaid her sister-in-law for this successful negociation by an affectionate embrace, and she spent the intervening time in joyous anticipation of that much-desired visit, and in forming innocently artful scheme for engaging M. de Bonneval in what she fancied would prove an interesting conversation. was anxious to draw his attention to a

subject that would of himself and his

an

She

induce him to speak

past life, as he had sometimes done when, for a few moments, she had had the good fortune to detain him by her side. When this had been the case it was happiness enough to her for whole days afterwards to dwell on the recollection of his expressive looks and his eloquent words. Her stratagem

consisted in placing poor Lafond's vinaigrette between a fan painted by Vanloo

and a group of figures in biscuit de Sèvre, which were likely to attract his notice. She trusted that his curiosity would be at once excited by the sight of an object which had once been in his possession.

When the time for the reception of visitors arrived, she withdrew to a window, where several young girls, the companions of her childhood, gathered round her. She found it difficult to attend to the incessant flow of very small talk which issued from their lips, as they eagerly discussed the merits of each article of dress or ornament which met their eyes; and when the Comte de Bonneval had once entered the room, many an observation on the comparative value of pearls and diamonds, of Valenciennes and Brussells' lace escaped her notice. She watched him as he paid his compliments to the marquise, her mother, and then, under her guidance, proceeded to inspect the various objects to which

she directed his attention. He had stopped to examine a magnificent necklace, the Duc de Lauzun's present to his greatniece, and was expressing his admiration. of the gift and of the giver's generosity, when his eye suddenly fixed itself on the vinaigrette which Judithe had so carefully contrived to place in his way. Hastily putting down the diamond necklace, he laid hold of the little trinket, and addressed some questions to Madame de Biron, which she seemed at a loss how to answer. curiosity evidently brooked no delay, and with the exultation of a child, whose little scheme has succeeded, Judithe saw him advance towards her with the vinaigrette in his hand.

His

The young ladies who were standing round her drew aside at his approach, and made way for him.

"do be SO

"My cousin," he said, kind as to tell me who it was

that

gave you this bauble. I am certain that it is the same which M. le Duc de Vendôme made me a present of more than twenty years ago. See! his initials are worked in enamel on the lid."

"It is, indeed, the same,' Judithe

answered with a smile, "and yet venture to assert that it is mine."

I

may

"Do you happen to recollect, my cousin, a soldier of the name of Lafond, who served in your regiment during the Italian campaign? He lost both his legs at the Battle of the the Lines of Turin ?"

"Lafond? To be sure I do. He was as brave a fellow as ever lived. From Gascony, if I mistake not?"

"Exactly so; from the village of Biron. You were present when he underwent a