As he took
off his broad felt hat, richly ornamented with long sweeping plumes,
and threw it carelessly down on one of the benches, it was seen that
his smooth, broad forehead was snowy white, and the contrast with his
sunburnt cheeks was not by any means displeasing. Indeed it was a very
handsome, attractive face, in which an expression of frank gaiety and
good humour tempered the air of pride that pervaded it.
The dress of this gay cavalier was extremely rich and elegant; almost
too much so for the country. But when we say that the marquis--for
such was his title--had been following the hounds in company with the
beautiful Yolande de Foix, we feel that his costume, of blue velvet
elaborately decorated with silver braid, is fully accounted for. He was
one of the gallants that shone at court in Paris--where he was in the
habit of spending a large portion of every year--and he prided himself
on being one of the best dressed noblemen in France.
His order to the obsequious landlord was in few words. "I want some
broth for my dogs, some oats for my horses, a piece of bread and a slice
of ham for myself, and something or other for my grooms"--and then he
advanced smilingly to the table and sat down in a vacant place beside
the pretty soubrette, who, charmed with such a gay, handsome seignior,
had been pleased to bestow a languishing glance and a brilliant smile
upon him.
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