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Updated: June 3, 2025
Malicorne having asked Saint-Aignan the next morning what news he had to report, the latter was obliged to confess that the quarter of an hour's liberty had made the king in most excellent humor. "We must double the dose," replied Malicorne, "but by insensible degrees; wait until they seem to wish it."
Besides, as a matter of course, everybody at the chateau was ignorant of the interview which had taken place between La Valliere and the king. Montalais, perhaps, with her usual chattering propensity, might have been disposed to talk about it; but Montalais on this occasion was held in check by Malicorne, who had securely fastened on her pretty lips the golden padlock of mutual interest.
"Well, then, my commission?" "Well, your commission?" "Shall I have it, or shall I not?" "You shall have it." "Ay, but when?" "When you like." "Where is it, then?" "In my pocket." "How in your pocket?" "Yes." And, with a smile, Malicorne drew from his pocket a letter, upon which mademoiselle seized as a prey, and which she read eagerly. As she read, her face brightened.
Then with his sardonic smile, taking up the interrupted sentence: "This place," said he, "at first glance, appears to have cost more than the first; but the benefit will be, I hope, in proportion with the expense, and Mademoiselle de la Valliere will bring me back more than Mademoiselle de Montalais, or else, or else my name is not Malicorne. Farewell, Manicamp," and he left the room.
Malicorne looked in the direction indicated, and observed borne upon a litter, the arrival of the Franciscan, whose installation in his apartment he had, with a few details of his own, related to Montalais, and whom he had so uselessly endeavored to convert to humbler views.
"Come, let us tell the truth to each other, while we are about it." "Oh, Malicorne! Bad-hearted man!" "Oh, Montalais! Ungrateful girl!" The young man leant with his elbow upon the window-frame; Montalais took a book and opened it. Malicorne stood up, brushed his hat with his sleeve, smoothed down his black doublet; Montalais, though pretending to read, looked at him out of the corner of her eye.
She heard the explosion of maternal anger, and as she divined the cause of it, she entered the chamber trembling, and perceived the unlucky Malicorne, whose woeful countenance might have softened or set laughing whoever observed it coolly.
"Oh," said Malicorne, "there is no question of such a post as that, monsieur; my ambition is not nearly so exalted." De Wardes had a more penetrating observation than De Guiche, and fathomed Malicorne immediately. "The fact is," he said, looking at him from head to foot, "a man must be either a duke or a peer to fill that post."
"Is he hard of hearing?" asked Malicorne. "Well, then, to the debtor's prison, if you like that better," explained Bourdin. "You you are can it be? the lawyer! Oh, my God!" The artisan, pale as death, fell back on his stool, unable to utter another word. "We are the officers who are to take you, if we can; do you understand now, old fellow?"
Malicorne began to scratch his ear, as he asked, "What time did the king fix for the rendezvous in your apartments?" "Two o'clock." "And you were waiting for the king?" "Ever since half-past one; it would have been a fine thing, indeed, to have been unpunctual with his majesty." Malicorne, notwithstanding his respect for Saint-Aignan, could not help smiling.
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