coup de grâce

As it happened, the coup members found the State House “fortified with additional soldiers.”

Many of them were delicious in the role; one of them was the embodiment of every womanly grace and charm.

They ranged from moving trunks to cleaning cisterns, and, by grace of all of them, Sim was doing very well.

Madame de Condillac stood watching him, her face composed, her glance cold.

Then the door opened, the portiere was swept aside, and Anselme announced "Monsieur de Garnache."

She was growing a little stout, but it did not seem to detract an iota from the grace of every step, pose, gesture.