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"On the contrary," said Louis, seriously, "I have so little intention of laughing, Monsieur de Manicamp, that I wish you to relate this adventure to every one." "The adventure of the hunt?" "Yes; in the same manner you told it to me, without changing a single word you understand?" "Perfectly, sire." "And you will relate it, then?" "Without losing a minute."
"Oh, yes, sire, I remember; but I spoke to M. Manicamp, and I should not have said a word had I known your majesty was near enough to hear us." "And why would you not have said a word?" "Because I should not have liked to get the gardener into a scrape who left it there poor fellow!" "Don't make yourself uneasy on that account. What is this ladder like?"
"Prove me that." "My friend, there will only be twelve maids of honor for madame, I have already obtained for you what twelve hundred women are trying for, and for that I was forced to employ all my diplomacy." "Oh! yes, I know you have been quite heroic, my dear friend." "We know what we are about," said Manicamp. "To whom do you tell that? When I am king, I promise you one thing." "What?
These words were more than transparent; they made the king blush, but this time with pleasure. He struck Manicamp gently on the shoulder. "Well, well, Monsieur de Manicamp, you are not only a ready, witty fellow, but a brave gentleman besides, and your friend De Guiche is a paladin quite after my own heart; you will express that to him from me." "Your majesty forgives me, then?" "Completely."
"No," said Manicamp, as usual very absent-minded, "but it appears you did not fall." "That doesn't matter; but it is not on that account the less dangerous to leave ladders lying about in that manner." "True, one might hurt one's self, especially when troubled with fits of absence of mind."
I begged, I implored him, but he would not listen to anything. Oh, the deuce!" "What's the matter?" "I beg your pardon, Mademoiselle Montalais, but this confounded branch, about which I have already had the honor of speaking to you, has just torn a certain portion of my dress." "It is quite dark," replied Montalais, laughing; "so, pray continue, M. Manicamp."
The count, in the presence of his tradespeople and of his servants, was engaged in praising or blaming, as the case seemed to deserve, the appointments, horses, and harness that were being submitted to him; when, in the midst of this important occupation, the name of Manicamp was announced. "Manicamp!" he exclaimed; "let him enter by all means." And he advanced a few steps toward the door.
And taking measures to make himself as comfortable as possible, he leaned his back against a tree and listened, and heard the following conversation. The woman was the first to speak. "Really, Monsieur Manicamp," she said, in a voice which, notwithstanding the reproaches she addressed to him, preserved a marked tone of coquetry, "really your indiscretion is of a very dangerous character.
The count, in the presence of his tradespeople and of his servants, was engaged in praising or blaming, as the case seemed to deserve, the appointments, horses, and harness that were being submitted to him; when, in the midst of this important occupation, the name of Manicamp was announced. "Manicamp!" he exclaimed, "let him enter by all means." And he advanced a few steps toward the door.
"Yes; but the promise of nomination, without the post itself, is like a purse with no money in it." "Quite true," Manicamp replied a second time. "Let us try for the post, then," the candidate had persisted. "My dear fellow," sighed Manicamp, "an appointment in his royal highness's household is one of the gravest difficulties of our position." "Oh! oh!"
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