Zamara knew that this was Marie Antoinette’s dressing-room. He moved across the bedchamber cautiously, and looked in. The room was empty, but a robe of some glittering white gauze lay upon a sofa near the toilet; and near that was a pair of white satin shoes, with high, red heels, and an enormous pearl in the center of each rosette. These preparations warned the dwarf that he might any moment be discovered. Quick as lightning he darted across the room, removed the casket from its azure cushion, and laid the enameled box, containing the scarabee, in its place. Before his hand left the box, he heard voices, and a gush of sweet laughter, as of young persons approaching and conversing together. That minute the room was empty again. Zamara had just found time to flee across the bedchamber and hide himself behind the voluminous curtains, when the Dauphiness came into the dressing-room, followed by several of her ladies. She had just come up from dining in public, where some strange characters among the people, permitted by an old custom, to see the monarch dine, had excited her mirthfulness. The Indian looked upon her with admiration, increased by her youth and wonderful beauty; the light from a dozen wax-tapers fell upon her rounded arms, shaded at the elbows with a mist of lace; and her neck, white as the purest leaves of a water-lily, gleaming through a kerchief of lace so thin that it lay upon it like a shadow. That string of pearls had fallen entirely from the casket when Zamara lifted it from the cushion, and this attracted the attention of the Dauphiness. She stooped and took them from the floor; then saw that the casket had been removed, and its place occupied. “What is this?” she exclaimed, unfolding the silver paper, and opening the box. “Some new gift from my august father-in-law, no doubt. How strange! Look ladies! what a singular thing!” She took the Egyptian ring from its box and examined it curiously. “A beetle with such strange writing on its breast; a serpent coiled around it. Some valuable antique, I suppose.” “A talisman, rather, which will bring good fortune to your Highness, and to France,” said one of the ladies in waiting. “I have heard of such things.” “And I,” said the Dauphiness, removing one of the many jewels from her finger, and putting the scarabee in its place. “It seems to have come here by a miracle, and we will at least test its virtues.” Here the dressing-room door was closed, and Zamara stole from his hiding-place. An hour after he rushed into the presence of his mistress, wild with triumph. “Madame! Oh, madame! she has got it! She accepts! I saw the serpent coiled around her finger! It looked alive—it looked alive!” In her gratitude for this evil act, the Countess Du Berry drew Zamara, the dwarf, toward her, and kissed him on the forehead. CHAPTER VI. HOUSEHOLD FAMINE.