THE RUSSIAN CIPHER
LE DIABLE
THE ABDUCTED AMBASSADOR
PRINCE FERDINAND'S ENTANGLEMENT
A DEAL WITH CHINA
MONSIEUR ROCHÉ'S DEFEAT
Published by HARPER & BROTHERS
"Saints defend us!" I pettishly exclaimed. "Is there no one in the worldwith an atom of brains? I don't want to go as 'Night' or 'Morning,' noras 'Marguerite' or 'Pierrette,' or 'Madame la Pompadour'; I wantsomething original!" And I stamped my foot to give emphasis to theremark.
"Shall it be as 'Carmen,' madame?"
I sank into a chair in dismay. "Carmen!" This was the creature's idea oforiginality. It was too ludicrous for anger. I laughed, and then, as Iraised my eyes to Madame Virot's indignantly bewildered countenance, myglance fell upon a dress in a wardrobe behind her, and I pointed to itin a flutter of excitement.
"Some one has originality, after all," I cried. "What does that dressrepresent?"
"An ice palace, madame."
"Mon Dieu! It is superb."
"Mais oui, madame, c'est magnifique, c'est un miracle," and then,carried away with enthusiasm, she brought it forth and dilated upon it.A pale green dress, covered with a shimmering, sparkling net-work thatlooked like frost itself.
"You see, madame, the head-dress forms the snowy pinnacle of the tower,and the eau de Nil embroidered skirt follows the frosted outlines ofthe building, which is a fac-simile of the ice palace raised lastwinter upon the Neva. An emerald satin mask, with tiny crystal icicleshanging from the edge, in place of the usual fringe of lace, completesthe costume."
"I must have it," I cried; "it is incomparable."
"It is sold, madame."
"I will pay double."
"Impossible!"
"Treble!"
"I would willingly give it to madame, as it pleases her fancy, but Icannot; it was designed according to sketches sent to me."
"Tush!" I impatiently exclaimed; "make a duplicate."
"It is impossible, madame, for the dress is for the same bal masquéthat you will attend."
"And for whom?" I superciliously queried, for I was beside myself withvexation. "Some nobody who has secured a card by chance, and wishes tobe thought a princess in disguise, eh?"
"I make for no such people," Madame Virot exclaimed, with a reflectionof my own annoyance. "The dress is for the Countess Zarfine. If madamewill suggest something else—"
I turned my eyes from the dress that tormented me, and racked my brainsfor something that should excel its splendor, but the idea came not, andwith a contemptuous glare I faced the inoffensive milliner, who hadtried to please me for years, and had never more than half succeeded.
"To be original nowadays," I said, indifferently, "is, after all, socommonplace, that to be commonplace is to be original. I will go as'Carmen.'"
The daintiness of my epigram pleased me so well that I was almostcontent, yet as I drove towards Le Bois the desire for the costume cameupon me again