The guests who were to take part in the tableaux vivants began slowly
to stream in. Maurice took Jean aside and told him what had happened
that morning.
"You must keep watch too. I am not going to leave the Duke."
When Esperance and Genevieve came in, Maurice caught the Duke's
expression in a mirror. He saw him move away and join a distant group
where he lingered chatting. Jean thought Esperance looked uneasy.
Albert came up to her and kissed her hand. She smiled sadly. She was
looking for some one. The Duke had disappeared before she had seen
him.
After a long discussion it was decided to have a dress rehearsal.
Esperance was not in the first picture so she would have had ample
time to have dressed at leisure, but nevertheless she put her things
on quite feverishly. Her costume consisted only, it is true, of a
light peplum over a flesh-coloured foundation. Genevieve helped her to
dress. In each dressing-room was one of Maurice's designs illustrating
just how the dress, hair, etc., were to be arranged. For Andromeda,
Esperance was to have bare feet, and wear on her hair a garland of
flowers.
The three first tableaux revolved before the Duke and his staff,
composed of Albert, Jean, Maurice and some of the distinguished
guests; and the order was given to summon the artists for the second
set, which was composed of the next three pictures.
The first tableaux of the second group represented Circe with the
companions of Ulysses changed into swine.
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