To render to all the highest respect, was the general order, but some were to be distinguished. Care was also taken that none should be neglected, and an infinite number of servants were seen gliding through the apartments, offering the most costly and delicate refreshments to every individual of the mixed assembly. De Blenau followed Chavigni through the grand saloon, where many an eye was turned upon the elegant and manly figure of him, who on that night of splendour and finery, presumed to show himself in a suit, rich indeed and well-fashioned, but evidently intended more for the sports of the morning than for the gay evening circle in which he then stood. Yet it was remarked, that none of the ladies drew back as the Cavalier passed them, notwithstanding his riding-dress and his dusty boots; and one fair demoiselle, whose rank would have sanctioned it, had it been done on purpose, was unfortunate enough to entangle her train on his spurs. The Count de Coligni stepped forward to disengage it, but De Blenau himself had already bent one knee to the ground, and easily freeing the spur from the robe of Mademoiselle de Bourbon, he remained for a moment in the same attitude. "It is but just," said he, "that I should kneel, at once to repair my awkwardness, and sue for pardon." "It was my sister's own fault, De Blenau," said the Duke d'Enghien, approaching them, and embracing the young Count. "We have not met, dear friend, since the rendering of Perpignan. But what makes you here? Does your proud spirit bend at last to ask a grace of my Lord Uncle Cardinal?" "No, your Highness," replied De Blenau; "no farther grace have I to ask, than leave to return to St. Germain's as soon as I may." "What!" said the Duke, in the abrupt heedless manner in which he always spoke, "does he threaten you too with that cursed bugbear of a Bastille? a bugbear, that makes one man fly his country, and another betray it; that makes one man run his sword into his heart, and another marry;"--alluding without ceremony to his own compelled espousal of the Cardinal's niece. "But there stands Chavigni," he continued, "waiting for you, I suppose. Go on, go on; there is no stopping when once you have got within the Cardinal's magic circle--Go on, and God speed your suit; for the sooner you are out of that same circle the better."