the swarm around the pedlar, but was actually aping courtly grimaces as he tried a delicate lace ruffle on the hand of a silly little smirking maiden, no older than himself!  But this little episode was, like many others, overlooked by Madame de Quinet, as her eye fell upon the little figure of Rayonette standing on the table, with her mother and two or three ladies besides coaxing her to open her mouth, and show the swollen gums that had of late been troubling her, while the pedlar was evidently expending his blandishments upon her.

The maitre d’hotel was the first to perceive his mistress, and, as he approached, received a sharp rebuke from her for allowing the fellow to produce his quack medicines; and, at the same time, she desired him to request Madame Esperance to come to her immediately on business.  Eustacie, who always had a certain self-willed sense of opposition when the Duchess showed herself peremptory towards her, at first began to make answer that she would come as soon as her business was concluded; but the steward made a gesture towards the great lady sailing up and down as she paced the dais in stately impatience.  ‘Good fellow,’ she said, ’I will return quickly, and see you again, though I am now interrupted.  Stay there, little one, with good Mademoiselle Perrot; mother will soon be back.’

Rayonette, in her tooth-fretfulnes, was far from enduring to be forsaken so near a strange man, and her cry made it necessary for Eustacie to take her in arms, and carry her to the dais where the Duchess was waiting.

‘So!’ said the lady, ’I suspected that the fellow was a quack as well as a cheat.’

’Madame,’said Eustacie, with spirit, ’he sold me unguents that greatly relieved my father last spring.’

’And because rubbing relieved an old man’s rheumatics, you would let a vagabond cheat drug and sicken this poor child for what is not ailment at all—­and the teeth will relieve in a few days.  Or, if she were feverish, have not we decoctions brewed from Heaven’s own pure herbs in the garden, with no unknown ingredient?’

‘Madame,’ said Eustacie, ruffling into fierceness, ’you are very good to me; but I must keep the management of my daughter to myself.’

The Duchess looked at her from head to foot.  Perhaps it was with an impulse to treat her impertinence as she would have done that of a dependant; but the old lady never forgot herself:  she only shrugged her shoulders and said, with studied politeness, ’When I unfortunately interrupted your consultation with this eminent physician, it was to ask you a question regarding this English family.  Will you do me the honour to enter my cabinet?’

And whereas no one was looking, the old lady showed her displeasure by ushering Madame de Ribaumont into her cabinet like a true noble stranger guest; so that Eustacie felt disconcerted.