Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente was very beautiful, and the gentlemen, accordingly, deserted her companions, and under the pretext of complimenting her upon her success, pressed in a circle around her.

The king and princess looked gloomily at this scene, as spectators of maturer age look on at the games of little children.

"They seem to be amusing themselves there," said the king.
"Greatly, sire; I have always found that people are amused wherever youth and beauty are to be found." "What do you think of Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente, Henrietta ?" inquired the king.
"I think she has rather too much flax-yellow and lily-whiteness in her complexion," replied Madame, fixing in a moment upon the only fault it was possible to find in the almost perfect beauty of the future Madame de Montespan." "Rather too fair, yes; but beautiful, I think, in spite of that." "Is that your opinion, sire ?" "Yes, really." "Very well; and it is mine, too." "And she seems to be much sought after." "On, that is a matter of course.

Lovers flutter from one to another.

If we had hunted for lovers instead of butterflies, you can see, from those who surround her, what successful sport we should have had." "Tell me, Henrietta, what would be said if the king were to make himself one of those lovers, and let his glance fall in that direction?
Would some one else be jealous, in such a case ?" "Oh! sire, Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente is a very efficacious remedy," said Madame, with a sigh.