rantomeetherlikeachild,andgaveacryofjoy,whichmust
havebeenverypleasingtothemarechale。
“Youareadearwoman,“hesaidtoher,withanairwhichaccorded
withhiswords,“IalwaysfindyouwhenIwantyou;andyoucan
nowherebemoreinplacethanhere。
Iaskyourfriendshipforour
dearcountess。“
“Shehasitalready,sire,fromthemomentIsawher;andI
considermyintimacywithherasoneofthehappiestchances
ofmylife。“
Thekingshowedtheutmostgoodhumorintheworldduringthe
restoftheevening。
Hescoldedme,however,forthemysteryI
hadmadeinconcealingfromhimtheagreeablevisitofthe
marechale。
Ijustifiedmyselfeasilybythepleasurewhichthis
surprisecausedhim;and,onmyside,gavemysincerethanks
tothechancellor。
“Youowemenone,“saidhe;“thegoodmarechalefeltherself
somewhatillateasenottobeonclosetermswithherwho
possessestheaffectionsoftheking。
Itisanindispensable
necessitythatsheshouldplayapartinthelesserapartments;
andastheprincipalcharacternolongersuitsher,sheis
contentedtoperformthatofconfidante,andranhereonmy
firstintimation。“
“Nevermindthemotivethatbroughther,“Isaid;“sheisa
companionformemuchmoredesirablethanmadamedeBearn。“
“Firstfromherrank,“saidthechancellor,smilingmaliciously,
“andthenbyvirtueofhercousinshipwiththeHolyVirgin。“
IconfessthatIwasignorantofthisincidentinthehouseof
Levi;andIlaughedheartilyatthedescriptionofthepicture,
inwhichoneofthelordsofthishouseisrepresentedonhis
kneesbeforethemotherofGod,whosaystohim,“