to us.”
Raoul thrust his hand up to the wrist into his justaucorps
in great agitation. But the very malignity which he saw was
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excited against these poor girls made him take a serious
resolution. “Poor Louise,” he thought, “has come here only
with an honorable object in view and under honorable
protection; and I must learn what that object is which she
has in view, and who it is that protects her.” And following
Malicorne’s maneuver, he made his way toward the group of
the maids of honor. The presentations were soon over. The
king, who had done nothing but look at and admire Madame,
shortly afterwards left the reception-room, accompanied by
the two queens. The Chevalier de Lorraine resumed his place
beside Monsieur, and, as he accompanied him, insinuated a
few drops of the venom he had collected during the last
hour, while looking at some of the faces in the court, and
suspecting that some of their hearts might be happy. A few
of the persons present followed the king as he quitted the
apartment; but such of the courtiers as assumed an
independence of character, and professed a gallantry of
disposition, began to approach the ladies of the court. The
prince paid his compliments to Mademoiselle de
Tonnay-Charente, Buckingham devoted himself to Madame
Chalais and Mademoiselle de Lafayette, whom Madame already
distinguished by her notice, and whom she held in high
regard. As for the Comte de Guiche, who had abandoned
Monsieur as soon as he could approach Madame alone, he
conversed, with great animation, with Madame de Valentinois,
and with Mesdemoiselles de Crequy and de Chatillon.
Amid these varied political and amorous interests, Malicorne
was anxious to gain Montalais’s attention; but the latter
preferred talking with Raoul, even if it were only to amuse
herself with his innumerable questions and his astonishment.
Raoul had gone direct to Mademoiselle de la Valliere, and
had saluted her with the profoundest respect, at which
Louise blushed, and could not say a word. Montalais,
however, hurried to her assistance.
“Well, monsieur le vicomte, here we are, you see.”
“I do, indeed, see you,” said Raoul, smiling, “and it is
exactly because you are here that I wish to ask for some
explanation.”
Malicorne approached the group with his most fascinating
smile.
“Go away, Malicorne; really, you are exceedingly
indiscreet.” At this remark Malicorne bit his lips and
retired a few steps, without making any reply. His smile,
however, changed its expression, and from its former
frankness, became mocking in its expression.
“You wished for an explanation, M. Raoul?” inquired
Montalais.
“It is surely worth one, I think; Mademoiselle de la
Valliere a maid of honor to Madame!”
“Why should not she be a maid of honor, as well as myself?”
inquired Montalais.
“Pray accept my compliments, young ladies,” said Raoul, who
fancied he perceived they were not disposed to answer him in
a direct manner.
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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
“Your remark was not made in a very complimentary manner,
vicomte.”
“Mine?”
“Certainly; I appeal to Louise.”
“M. de Bragelonne probably thinks the position is above my
condition,” said Louise, hesitatingly.
“Assuredly not,” replied Raoul, eagerly; “you know very well
that such is not my feeling; were you called upon to occupy
a queen’s throne, I should not be surprised; how much
greater reason, then, such a position as this? The only
circumstance that amazes me is that I should have learned it
only to-day, and that by the merest accident.”
“That is true,” replied Montalais, with her usual giddiness;
“you know nothing about it, and there is no reason you
should. M. de Bragelonne had written several letters to you,
but your mother was the only person who remained behind at
Blois, and it was necessary to prevent these letters falling
into her hands; I intercepted them, and returned them to M.
Raoul, so that he believed you were still at Blois while you
were here in Paris, and had no idea whatever, indeed, how
high you had risen in rank.”
“Did you not inform M. Raoul, as I begged you to do?”
“Why should I? to give him an opportunity or making some of