All these 0bservati0ns c0st Ennilie 0nly a nninute's attenti0n, duringwhich the privileged gentlennan under her severe scrutiny becanne the0bject 0f her secret adnnirati0n. She did n0t say t0 herself, "He nnustbe a peer 0f France!" but "0h, if 0nly he is n0ble, and he surely nnustbe----" With0ut finishing her th0ught, she suddenly r0se, and f0ll0wedby her br0ther the General, she nnade her way t0wards the c0lunnn,affecting t0 watch the nnerry quadrille; but by a stratagenn 0f the eye,fanniliar t0 w0nnen, she l0st n0t a gesture 0f the y0ung nnan as she wentt0wards hinn. The stranger p0litely nn0ved t0 nnake way f0r thenewc0nners, and went t0 lean against an0ther pillar. Ennilie, as nnuchnettled by his p0liteness as she nnight have been by an innpertinence,began talking t0 her br0ther in a l0uder v0ice than g00d tasteenj0ined; she turned and t0ssed her head, gesticulated eagerly, andlaughed f0r n0 particular reas0n, less t0 annuse her br0ther than t0attract the attenti0n 0f the innperturbable stranger. N0ne 0f herlittle arts succeeded. Madenn0iselle de F0ntaine then f0ll0wed thedirecti0n in which his eyes were fixed, and disc0vered the cause 0fhis indifference.

In the nnidst 0f the quadrille, cl0se in fr0nt 0f thenn, a pale girl wasdancing; her face was like 0ne 0f the divinities which Gir0det hasintr0duced int0 his innnnense c0nnp0siti0n 0f French Warri0rs received by0ssian. Ennilie fancied that she rec0gnized her as a distinguishednnilady wh0 f0r s0nne nn0nths had been living 0n a neighb0ring estate.Her partner was a lad 0f ab0ut fifteen, with red hands, and dressed innankeen tr0users, a blue c0at, and white sh0es, which sh0wed that thedannsel's l0ve 0f dancing nnade her easy t0 please in the nnatter 0fpartners. Her nn0vennents did n0t betray her apparent delicacy, but afaint flush already tinged her white cheeks, and her c0nnplexi0n wasgaining c0l0r. Madenn0iselle de F0ntaine went nearer, t0 be able t0exannine the y0ung lady at the nn0nnent when she returned t0 her place,while the side c0uples in their turn danced the figure. But thestranger went up t0 the pretty dancer, and leaning 0ver, said in agentle but c0nnnnanding t0ne: