“Here, ladies,” said I to the cousins, “are your dresses, and here is yours, mademoiselle—­a little smaller.  Here are your shifts, your handkerchiefs and your stockings, and I think you will find everything you require on this table.  Here are masks, the faces of which shew so poorly beside your own, and here are three plates to crave alms.  If anybody looks as high as your garters, they will see how wretched you are, and the holes in the stockings will let people know that you have not the wherewithal to buy silk to mend them.  This packthread must serve you for buckles, and we must take care that there are holes in your shoes and also in your gloves, and as everything must match, as soon as you have put on your chemises you must tear the lace round the neck.”

While I was going through this explanation I saw surprise and delight efface the disappointment and vexation which had been there a moment before.  They saw what a rich disguise I had provided for them, and they could not find it in their hearts to say, “What a pity!”

“Here, gentlemen, are your beggar-clothes.  I forgot to lacerate your beaver hats, but that is soon done.  Well, what do you think of the costume?”

“Now, ladies, we must leave you; shut the door fast, for it is a case of changing your shifts.  Now, gentlemen, leave the room.”

The marquis was enthusiastic.

“What a sensation we shall create!” said he, “nothing could be better.”

In half an hour we were ready.  The stockings in holes, the worn-out shoes, the lace in rags, the straggling hair, the sad masks, the notched plates—­all made a picture of sumptuous misery hard to be described.

The ladies took more time on account of their hair, which floated on their shoulders in fine disorder.  Mdlle.  Q——­’s hair was especially fine, it extended almost to her knees.

When they were ready the door was opened, and we saw everything which could excite desire without wounding decency.  I admired Zenobia’s adroitness.  The rents in dresses and chemises disclosed parts of their shoulders, their breasts, and their arms, and their white legs shone through the holes in the stockings.

I shewed them how to walk, and to sway their heads to and fro, to excite compassion, and yet be graceful, and how to use their handkerchiefs to shew people the tears in them and the fineness of the lace.  They were delighted, and longed to be at the ball, but I wanted to be there first to have the pleasure of seeing them come in.  I put on my mask, told Zenobia to go to bed, as we would not be back till daybreak, and set out on my way.

I entered the ball-room, and as there were a score of Pierrots nobody noticed me.  Five minutes after there was a rush to see some maskers who were coming in, and I stood so as to have a good view.  The marquis came in first between the two cousins.  Their slow, pitiful step matched the part wonderfully.  Mdlle.  Q——­ with her flame-coloured dress, her splendid hair, and her fine shape, drew all eyes towards her.  The astonished and inquisitive crowd kept silence for a quarter of an hour after they had come in, and then I heard on every side, “What a disguise!” “It’s wonderful!” “Who are they?” “Who can they be?” “I don’t know.”  “I’ll find out.”