Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 29, 2025
His face bore visible testimony against his health, to which his accumulated and incessant labour had caused the greatest injury. We had just married his son Blainville to my niece, Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente, heiress of the house of Rochchouart. Since this union the King's work M. Colbert had somewhat tended in my favour, and I had reason to count on his good offices and kindness.
"Alas! it must be so, for see, we are interrupted." "Yes, indeed," said Henrietta, "they are bringing Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente and her sphinx butterfly in grand procession this way." "It is perfectly well understood, that this evening, during the promenade, I am to make my escape into the forest, and find La Valliere without you." "I will take care to send her away." "Very well!
"But surely the enchanting spectacle?" "No more than the dancing. As far as beauty is concerned, I much prefer that which these dark woods present, in whose depths can be seen, now in one direction and again in another, a light passing by, as though it were an eye, in color like a midnight rainbow, sometimes open, at others closed." "La Valliere is quite a poetess," said Tonnay-Charente.
The eager expectation of the throng, amidst all the tediously slow preparations, was rather that of cupidity than curiosity. Saint-Aignan bent towards Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente to whisper to her, "Since we have each a number, let us unite our two chances. The bracelet shall be yours if I win, and if you are successful, deign to give me but one look of your beautiful eyes."
I already knew Mademoiselle de la Valliere's secret, and that of Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente; your own you have just been kind enough to confide to me; for which I thank you. I can keep three quite as well as one."
"It ought to be a secret, and a very great one, even; but your majesty is well aware that no secret can possibly exist for you." "Well, what is her name?" "Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente." "Is she pretty?" "Exceedingly, sire; and I recognized the voice which pronounced my name in such tender accents.
Madame was conversing with Mademoiselle de Chatillon and Mademoiselle de Crequy, who were next to her, and addressed a few words to Monsieur, who drew aside as soon as the king was announced. Mademoiselle de la Valliere, like Montalais, was on Madame's left hand, and the last but one on the line, Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente being on her right.
"Yes," said Saint-Aignan, "under the royal oak, with Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente." "How do you know that?" inquired Montalais. "In a very simple way. Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente told me so." "In that case, she probably told you the cause of Mademoiselle de la Valliere's fainting?" "Why, yes; she told me something about a wolf or a robber. I forget precisely which."
Saint-Aignan, in utter despair at the rigor, which became almost insulting from the very fact of her persisting in it, Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente displayed, tried to turn his back upon her; but, overcome by the irresistible brilliancy of her eyes, he, every moment, returned to consecrate his defeat by new submissions, to which Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente did not fail to reply by fresh acts of impertinence.
As at Fontainebleau, he had taken Saint-Aignan with him one evening when he wished to pay La Valliere a visit; but he had found no one but Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente, who had begun to call out "Fire!" and "Thieves!" in such a manner that a perfect legion of chamber-maids, attendants, and pages, ran to her assistance; so that Saint-Aignan, who had remained behind in order to save the honor of his royal master, who had fled precipitately, was obliged to submit to a severe scolding from the queen-mother, as well as from Madame herself.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking