Then a robe of purple and ermine was thrown over her shoulders by an attendant; she gave a sharp command, and the lions came round the ring, to wild applause.

Even a Parisian audience had never seen anything like this.

It was amusing too; for the coachman-lion was evidently disgusted with his task, and growled in a helpless kind of way.
As they passed Gaston's box, they were very near.

The girl threw one swift glance; but her face was well controlled now.

She heard, however, a whispered word come to her: "Andree!" A few moments afterwards she retired, and the performance was in other and less remarkable hands.