86 TEN TEARS LATER. Count," he said, "you're a man of excellent taste." "Thank you for the compliment," replied De Guiche; "but why do you say that?" "Well, I appeal to his highness." "No doubt of it," said Monsieur; "and Guiche knows perfectly well that I regard him as a most finished cavalier." "Well, since that is decided, I resume. You nave been in the princess' society, count, for the last eight days, have you not?" "Yes," replied De Guiche, coloring in spite of himself. "Well, then, tell us frankly, what do you think of her personal appearance?" "Of her personal appearance?" returned De Guiche, stupefied. "Yes; of her appearance, of her mind, of herself, in fact." Astounded by this question, De Guiche hesitated an- swering. "Come, come, De Guiche," resumed the chevalier laugh- ingly, "tell us your opinion frankly; the prince commands it." "Yes, yes," said the prince; "be frank." De Guiche stammered out a few unintelligible words. "lam perfectly well aware," returned Monsieur, "that the subject is a delicate one, but you know you can tell me everything. What do you think of her?" In order to avoid betraying his real thoughts, De Guiche had recourse to the only defense which a man taken by sur- prise really has, and accordingly told an untruth. "I do not find madame," he said, "either good or bad looking, yet rather good than bad looking." "What! count," exclaimed the chevalier, "you who went into such ecstasies and uttered so many exclamations at the sight of her portrait." De Guiche colored violently. Very fortunately, his horse, which was slightly restive, enabled him by a sudden plunge to conceal his agitation. "What portrait?" he murmured, joining them again. The chevalier had not taken his eyes off him. "Yes, the portrait. Was not the miniature a good like- ness?" "I do not remember. I have forgotten the portrait; it has quite escaped my recollection." "And yet it made a very marked impression upon you," said the chevalier.
