The old gentleman went on as follows: ------Whiskers! cried the queen of _Navarre_, dropping her knotting ball, as _La Fosseuse_ uttered the word ----Whiskers, madam, said _La Fosseuse_, pinning the ball to the queen's apron, and making a courtesy as she repeated it.
_La Fosseuse's_ voice was naturally soft and low, yet 'twas an articulate voice: and every letter of the word _Whiskers_ fell distinctly upon the queen of _Navarre's_ ear --Whiskers! cried the queen, laying a greater stress upon the word, and as if she had still distrusted her ears ----Whiskers! replied _La Fosseuse_, repeating the word a third time ----There is not a cavalier, madam, of his age in _Navarre_, continued the maid of honour, pressing the page's interest upon the queen, that has so gallant a pair ----Of what? cried _Margaret_, smiling --Of whiskers, said _La Fosseuse_, with infinite modesty.
The word _Whiskers_ still stood its ground, and continued to be made use of in most of the best companies throughout the little kingdom of _Navarre_, notwithstanding the indiscreet use which _La Fosseuse_ had made of it: the truth was, _La Fosseuse_ had pronounced the word, not only before the queen, but upon sundry other occasions at court, with an accent which always implied something of a mystery --And as the court of _Margaret_, as all the world knows, was at that time a mixture of gallantry and devotion----and whiskers being as applicable to the one, as the other, the word naturally stood its ground----it gain'd full as much as it lost; that is, the clergy were for it----the laity were against it----and for the women, ----_they_ were divided.
The excellency of the figure and mien of the young Sieur _De Croix_, was at that time beginning to draw the attention of the maids of honour towards the terrace before the palace gate, where the guard was mounted. The lady _De Baussiere_ fell deeply in love with him, ----_La Battarelle_ did the same--it was the finest weather for it, that ever was remembered in _Navarre_----_La Guyol_, _La Maronette_, _La Sabatiere_, fell in love with the Sieur _De Croix_ also----_La Rebours_ and _La Fosseuse_ knew better----_De Croix_ had failed in an attempt to recommend himself to _La Rebours_; and _La Rebours_ and _La Fosseuse_ were inseparable.

The old gentleman went on as follows:
'Whiskers!' cried the queen of Navarre, dropping her knotting ball, as La Fosseuse uttered the word.
'Whiskers, madam,' said La Fosseuse, making a curtsey.
The maid of honour's voice was soft and low, yet every letter of the word Whiskers fell distinctly upon the queen's ear.
'Whiskers!' cried Queen Margaret again.
'Whiskers!' replied La Fosseuse. 'There is not a cavalier, madam, in Navarre, that has so gallant a pair-'
'Of what?' cried the queen, smiling.
'Of whiskers,' said La Fosseuse, with infinite modesty.
The word Whiskers was used in the best company throughout the little kingdom of Navarre, notwithstanding La Fosseuse's indiscreet use of it: the truth was, she had said the word, not only before the queen, but on other occasions at court, with an accent which always implied a mystery.
And as the court of Margaret was a mixture of gallantry and devotion, the word stood its ground. The clergy were for it - the laity were against it - and as for the women, they were divided.
The excellent figure and bearing of the young Seignior De Croix was at that time beginning to draw the attention of the maids of honour. The lady De Baussiere fell deeply in love with him; La Battarelle did the same. La Guyol, La Maronette and La Sabatiere fell in love with him also - La Rebours and La Fosseuse knew better.
