Lisette drew her dark blue coat snugly around herself, frowning up at the sky. It was clear blue, with fluffy white clouds, the kind that children love to imagine shapes out of. But autumn had come prematurely and there was a chill in the air. Lisette huffed as a stray yellow-brown leaf drifter through the air and landed at her feet. The blasted weather was preventing her from showing off her new red dress. Oh well, at least now she would instead be able to show off her ermine toque, the one that Madame Jacqueline had given to her when she first brought Lisette into her care and had given her a job. Lisette had brought it out of her trunk this morning, shaking the dust off the grey-white fur and thinking it would give her a touch of sophistication for the season.

She entered the gardens and brought out a small hand mirror from inside her coat pocket. White blonde hair set in rigid curls about a powdered face, eyelashes thick with mascara, rouge on the cheeks, lips painted the colour of red wine'ah, perfect! With a satisfied nod at her reflection, Lisette tucked the mirror away and joined the throng of people out on a Sunday afternoon.

She passed a couple of regulars on her walk: there was that old woman who always sat on that same bench every Sunday. She always seemed to be eavesdropping on other people's conversations. Sad old bird. Oh look'she's wearing a tattered fox fur about her shoulders today. She must have brought it out because of the weather. Rather like my ermine, Lisette thought, somewhat disconcertedly.

The band finished their piece, and the conductor, a dreamy young man who revelled in Lisette's company the night before, waved to catch her attention. She gave a coy smile in acknowledgement. He was showing off his coat. Lisette frowned, her mind drawing a blank. Then her brow cleared as she recalled him buying the new coat on a whim just last night. She nodded in approval and waved farewell. The band struck up a merry note as she turned'and nearly bumped into a group of small children. A sever-looking nun hurried by, pausing just enough to shoot Lisette a disapproving glare. Lisette snorted with derision and gave a contemptuous, but gentle, toss of her head, taking care not to upset her toque. Her attention was diverted by a small boy calling out, 'Mademoiselle! Attente!' The boy was running, clutching a bouquet of violets and handed them to a woman with a beautiful face and wearing expensive silks. Age had not yet stolen the youthful lustre of her skin, and she carried herself with such a gracious air, chin lifted high, as if she were royalty. Not even Lisette's many talents could achieve such a demeanour. Lisette watch with a twinge of jealousy mixed with disapproval as the beautiful lady threw the flowers on the ground, as if the little boy's touch had tainted them with his commonness. Oh, the vagaries of the rich!

Suddenly, Lisette caught a whiff of cologne and turned to see a distinguished-looking gentleman walking up the path. Switching immediately to professional mode, she sauntered forward, catlike, to meet him, her black boots clicking sharply on the uneven garden path. They stopped right opposite to where the old woman with the fox fur was sitting.

Lisette smiled coquettishly, touching her gloved fingers to her lips. He looked at her appraisingly. Undeterred, she purred, 'I rather thought we were going to meet this afternoon, and voila! Here we are; I am absolutely delighted! I've been looking all over the place for someone just like you'the city, the market square, even along by the sea, and here we are at Le Jardins Publiques, and on such a charming day, don't you agree? And wouldn't you like to, perhaps'¦' she left the question hanging, suggestively tilting her head.

The man had been lighting a cigarette as Lisette chatted away. Now, he shook his head at her invitation, and blew a cloud of acrid smoke right in her face. Lisette dismissed it with a dainty wave of her hand. She tittered gaily and continued with her customary small talk, but the man flicked his match away and walked on.

Lisette, smile plastered on her white face, gritted her teeth. The younger girls would never have been rejected as easily, she thought sourly. Especially the likes of pretty little Alizé, with her raven curls, rosy cheeks and voluptuous figure'

She started, suddenly aware that she was standing still in the middle of the path, and that the old woman was staring at her keenly. Yet again Lisette's eyes fell upon the fox fur, and she had a fleeting image of some twenty-thirty years on, another woman sitting on that very same bench, dwelling on the youth around her, sad, lonely, old, with only an ermine toque for comfort'¦

Lisette shook her head vigorously to rid herself of that dreadful image. More annoyed than unnerved, she patted her ermine toque consciously and started walking off, this time more slowly. The band seemed to be slowing its rhythmic pace as well. The young conductor caught Lisette's eye and smiled. Dearest James, she thought, shaking her head ruefully. The tender music filled her mind; but she spied a young man with a foreign face standing by the fountains, looking lost. Lisette raised her hand in a flirtatious greeting and pattered towards her customer for the night.

The band struck up a merry note.

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