that the king, who had seemed more than surprised at his
sister-in-law’s appearance was most flattering in his
compliments to her. Again, it was remarked that the
queen-mother, fixing a long and thoughtful gaze upon
Buckingham, leaned towards Madame de Motteville as though to
ask her, “Do you not see how much he resembles his father?”
and finally it was remarked that Monsieur watched everybody,
and seemed quite discontented. After the reception of the
princess and ambassadors, Monsieur solicited the king’s
permission to present to him as well as to Madame the
persons belonging to their new household.
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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
“Are you aware, vicomte,” inquired the Prince de Conde of
Raoul, “whether the household has been selected by a person
of taste, and whether there are any faces worth looking at?”
“I have not the slightest idea, monseigneur,” replied Raoul.
“You affect ignorance, surely.”
“In what way, monseigneur?”
“You are a friend of De Guiche, who is one of the friends of
the prince.”
“That may be so, monseigneur; but the matter having no
interest whatever for me, I never questioned De Guiche on
the subject; and De Guiche on his part, never having been
questioned, did not communicate any particulars to me.”
“But Manicamp?”
“It is true I saw Manicamp at Havre, and during the journey
here, but I was no more inquisitive with him than I had been
towards De Guiche. Besides, is it likely that Manicamp
should know anything of such matters? for he is a person of
only secondary importance.”
“My dear vicomte, do you not know better than that?” said
the prince; “why, it is these persons of secondary
importance who, on such occasions, have all the influence;
and the truth is, that nearly everything has been done
through Manicamp’s presentations to De Guiche, and through
De Guiche to Monsieur.”
“I assure you, monseigneur, I was ignorant of that,” said
Raoul, “and what your highness does me the honor to impart
is perfectly new to me.”
“I will most readily believe you, although it seems
incredible; besides, we shall not have long to wait. See,
the flying squadron is advancing, as good Queen Catherine
used to say. Ah! ah! what pretty faces!”
A bevy of young girls at this moment entered the salon,
conducted by Madame de Navailles, and to Manicamp’s credit
be it said, if indeed he had taken that part in their
selection which the Prince de Conde assigned him, it was a
display calculated to dazzle those who, like the prince,
could appreciate every character and style of beauty. A
young, fair-complexioned girl, from twenty to one-and-twenty
years of age, and whose large blue eyes flashed, as she
opened them, in the most dazzling manner, walked at the head
of the band and was the first presented.
“Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente,” said Madame de Navailles
to Monsieur, who, as he saluted his wife, repeated
“Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente.”
“Ah! ah!” said the Prince de Conde to Raoul, “she is
presentable enough.”
“Yes,” said Raoul, “but has she not a somewhat haughty
style?”
“Bah! we know these airs very well, vicomte; three months
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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
hence she will be tame enough. But look, there, indeed, is a
pretty face.”
“Yes,” said Raoul, “and one I am acquainted with.”
“Mademoiselle Aure de Montalais,” said Madame de Navailles.
The name and Christian name were carefully repeated by
Monsieur.
“Great heavens!” exclaimed Raoul, fixing his bewildered gaze
upon the entrance doorway.
“What’s the matter?” inquired the prince; “was it
Mademoiselle Aure de Montalais who made you utter such a
`Great heavens’?”
“No, monseigneur, no,” replied Raoul, pale and trembling.
“Well, then, if it be not Mademoiselle Aure de Montalais, it
is that pretty blonde who follows her. What beautiful eyes!
She is rather thin, but has fascinations without number.”
“Mademoiselle de la Baume le Blanc de la Valliere!” said
Madame de Navailles; and, as this name resounded through his
whole being, a cloud seemed to rise from his breast to his
eyes, so that he neither saw nor heard anything more; and
the prince, finding him nothing more than a mere echo which
remained silent under his railleries, moved forward to