The conclusion of his flattering speech he whispered so low that it was heard by no one but the princess.

Patting his cheek with her little round hand, she blushed, but not for shame, as she did not cast down her eyes, but answered with a glowing glance the tender looks of her lover.  She blushed only from an internal passionate excitement, while her bosom stormily rose and fell.

“You are very saucy, Alexis,” said she, but at the same time lightly kissing him upon the forehead, and smiling; but then her brow was suddenly clouded, for the door was again opened and once more the lackey appeared upon the threshold.

“The French ambassador,” said he, “the Marquis de la Chetardie, begs the favor of an audience.”

“Ah, the good marquis!” cried the princess, rising from her reclining position.  “Conduct him in, he is very welcome.”

The lackey opened both wings of the folding-door, and the marquis entered, followed by several servants with boxes and packets.

“Ah, you come very much like a milliner,” laughingly exclaimed Elizabeth, graciously advancing to receive the ambassador.

Dropping upon one knee, the marquis kissed her offered hand.

“I come, illustrious Princess Elizabeth, to beg a favor of you!” he said.

“You wish to mortify me,” responded Elizabeth.  “How can the ambassador of a great and powerful nation have a favor to ask of the poor, repudiated, and forgotten Princess Elizabeth?”

“In the name of the king my master come I to demand this favor!” solemnly answered the marquis.

“Well, if you really speak in earnest,” said the princess, “then I have only to respond that it will make me very happy to comply with any request which your august king or yourself may have to make of me.”

“Then I may be allowed, on this occasion of the celebration of your name-day, to lay at your feet these trifling presents of my royal master,” said the ambassador of France, rising to take the boxes and packages from the lackeys and place them before Elizabeth.

“They are only trifles,” continued he, while assiduously occupied in opening the boxes, “trifles of little value—­only interesting, perhaps, because they are novelties that have as yet been worn in Paris by no lady except the queen and madame!

“This mantelet of Valenciennes lace,” continued the busy marquis, unfolding before the princess a magically fine lace texture, “this mantelet is sent by the Queen of France to the illustrious Princess Elizabeth.  Only two such mantelets have been made, and her majesty has strictly commanded that no more of a similar pattern shall be commenced.”

Princess Elizabeth’s eyes sparkled with delight.  Like a curious child she fluttered from one box to the other, and in fact they were very costly, tasteful, and charming things which their majesties of France had sent to the Princess Elizabeth, who prized nothing higher than splendor in dress and ornaments.