Ah! ah! what pretty faces!" A bevy of young girls at this moment entered the _salon_, conducted by Madame de Navailles, and to Manicamp's credit be it said, if indeed he had taken that part in their selection which the Prince de Conde assigned him, it was a display calculated to dazzle those who, like the prince, could appreciate every character and style of beauty.

A young, fair-complexioned girl, from twenty to one-and-twenty years of age, and whose large blue eyes flashed, as she opened them, in the most dazzling manner, walked at the head of the band and was the first presented.
"Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente," said Madame de Navailles to Monsieur, who, as he saluted his wife, repeated "Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente." "Ah! ah!" said the Prince de Conde to Raoul, "she is presentable enough." "Yes," said Raoul, "but has she not a somewhat haughty style ?" "Bah! we know these airs very well, vicomte; three months hence she will be tame enough.

But look, there, indeed, is a pretty face." "Yes," said Raoul, "and one I am acquainted with." "Mademoiselle Aure de Montalais," said Madame de Navailles.

The name and Christian name were carefully repeated by Monsieur.
"Great heavens!" exclaimed Raoul, fixing his bewildered gaze upon the entrance doorway.
"What's the matter ?" inquired the prince; "was it Mademoiselle Aure de Montalais who made you utter such a 'Great heavens' ?" "No, monseigneur, no," replied Raoul, pale and trembling.
"Well, then, if it be not Mademoiselle Aure de Montalais, it is that pretty _blonde_ who follows her.

What beautiful eyes! She is rather thin, but has fascinations without number." "Mademoiselle de la Baume le Blanc de la Valliere!" said Madame de Navailles; and, as this name resounded through his whole being, a cloud seemed to rise from his breast to his eyes, so that he neither saw nor heard anything more; and the prince, finding him nothing more than a mere echo which remained silent under his railleries, moved forward to inspect somewhat closer the beautiful girls whom his first glance had already particularized.
"Louise here! Louise a maid of honor to Madame!" murmured Raoul, and his eyes, which did not suffice to satisfy his reason, wandered from Louise to Montalais.