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He felt that it would be so, from the general attention excited by Saint-Aignan's preamble, and aroused too by Madame's peculiar manner. The most reserved of those who were present seemed ready to devour every syllable the comte was about to pronounce.
"And La Valliere," exclaimed Guiche, impatiently, and completely ignorant besides of Saint-Aignan's object. "Yes, yes, you have it. You have hit upon the word, 'La Valliere." "A grand discovery indeed." "Montalais and La Valliere, these, then, are the two young girls in whom you interest yourself," said Saint-Aignan, laughing.
"That I cannot tell you. Would you like to go down to Monsieur de Saint-Aignan's rooms? Perhaps we shall be able to find the solution of the enigma there." And Madame set the example by going down herself, while Raoul, sighing deeply, followed her.
"Very good, Madame," returned Raoul; "but go on, I beg, for I do not understand yet." "Well, then it accidentally happened," continued the princess, "that M. de Saint-Aignan's apartment is situated underneath the apartments of my maids of honor, and by a further coincidence, exactly underneath the room of La Valliere." "But what was the motive of this trap-door and this staircase?"
Saint-Aignan's plan was as follows: If the information obtained was satisfactory, he would inform the king, with alacrity, that he had lighted upon a pearl, and claim the privilege of setting the pearl in question in the royal crown.
A moment's silence followed, which was at last broken by Madame. "Well, sir," she inquired, "What is your majesty's opinion of these three portraits?" The king, who wished to relieve Saint-Aignan's embarrassment without compromising himself, replied, "Why, Amaryllis, in my opinion, is beautiful."
He instantly despatched a courier to meet Louville with an order prohibiting him to approach any nearer to Madrid. The courier missed Louville, but a quarter of an hour after this latter had alighted at Saint-Aignan's, he received a note from Grimaldo inclosing an order from the King of Spain, commanding him to leave the city that instant!
He instantly despatched a courier to meet Louville with an order prohibiting him to approach any nearer to Madrid. The courier missed Louville, but a quarter of an hour after this latter had alighted at Saint-Aignan's, he received a note from Grimaldo inclosing an order from the King of Spain, commanding him to leave the city that instant!
"Oh, heavens!" said the king, as he read the note. "Is your majesty unwell?" inquired Saint-Aignan, stretching forward his arms. "No, no, Saint-Aignan read!" and he handed him the note. Saint-Aignan's eyes fell upon the signature. "La Valliere!" he exclaimed. "Oh, sire!" "Read, read!"
Alberoni, not satisfied with what he had already done, came himself to the Duc de Saint-Aignan's, in order to persuade Louville to depart at once. Despite the representations made to him, he insisted upon penetrating to the sick-chamber. There he saw Louville in his bath.
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