Zoe, during each momentary respite, kept coming in to get Madame's things ready.

Soon she came to dress her while the hairdresser lingered with the intention of giving some finishing touches to the headdress.

But the bell kept continually disturbing the lady's maid, who left Madame with her stays half laced and only one shoe on.

Despite her long experience, the maid was losing her head.

After bringing every nook and corner into requisition and putting men pretty well everywhere, she had been driven to stow them away in threes and fours, which was a course of procedure entirely opposed to her principles.