"Ah! my little Chauvelin!" she said with unconcerned gaiety, and extending her tiny hand to him. "Monsieur and I are old friends, your Royal Highness.""Ah, then," said the Prince, this time very graciously, "you are doubly welcome, Monsieur.""There is someone else I would crave permission to present to your Royal Highness," here interposed Lord Grenville.
"Ah! who is it?" asked the Prince.
"Madame la Comtesse de Tournay de Basserive and her family, who have but recently come from France.""By all means!--They are among the lucky ones then!"Lord Grenville turned in search of the Comtesse, who sat at the further end of the room.
"Lud love me!" whispered his Royal Highness to Marguerite, as soon as he had caught sight of the rigid figure of the old lady; "Lud love me! she looks very virtuous and very melancholy.""Faith, your Royal Highness," she rejoined with a smile, "virtue is like precious odours, most fragrant when it is crushed.""Virtue, alas!" sighed the Prince, "is mostly unbecoming to your charming sex, Madame.""Madame la Comtesse de Tournay de Basserive," said Lord Grenville, introducing the lady.