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madame, and through the protection of M. Malicorne, moreover.โ€

โ€œIt is incredible!โ€ repeated the old lady: โ€œis it not incredible, Louise?โ€ But Louise did not reply; she was sitting, thoughtfully, almost sad; passing one had over her beautiful brow, she sighed heavily.

โ€œWell, but, monsieur,โ€ said Madame de Saint-Remy, all at once, โ€œhow did you manage to obtain this post?โ€

โ€œI asked for it, madame.โ€

โ€œOf whom?โ€

โ€œOne of my friends.โ€

โ€œAnd you have friends sufficiently powerful at court to give you such proofs of their credit?โ€

โ€œIt appears so.โ€

โ€œAnd may one ask the name of these friends?โ€

โ€œI did not say I had many friends, madame, I said I had one friend.โ€

โ€œAnd that friend is called?โ€

โ€œPeste! madame, you go too far! When one has a friend as powerful as mine, we do not publish his name in that fashion, in open day, in order that he may be stolen from us.โ€

โ€œYou are right, monsieur, to be silent as to that name; for I think it would be pretty difficult for you to tell it.โ€

โ€œAt all events,โ€ said Montalais, โ€œif the friend does not exist, the brevet does, and that cuts short the question.โ€

โ€œThen, I conceive,โ€ said Madame de Saint-Remy, with the gracious smile of the cat who is going to scratch, โ€œwhen I found monsieur here just nowโ€”โ€

โ€œWell?โ€

โ€œHe brought you the brevet.โ€

โ€œExactly, madame; you have guessed rightly.โ€

โ€œWell, then, nothing can be more moral or proper.โ€

โ€œI think so, madame.โ€

โ€œAnd I have been wrong, as it appears, in reproaching you, mademoiselle.โ€

โ€œVery wrong, madame; but I am so accustomed to your reproaches, that I pardon you these.โ€

โ€œIn that case, let us begone, Louise; we have nothing to do but retire. Well!โ€

โ€œMadame!โ€ said La Valliere starting, โ€œdid you speak?โ€

โ€œYou do not appear to be listening, my child.โ€

โ€œNo, madame, I was thinking.โ€

โ€œAbout what?โ€

โ€œA thousand things.โ€

โ€œYou bear me no ill-will, at least, Louise?โ€ cried Montalais, pressing her hand.

โ€œAnd why should I, my dear Aure?โ€ replied the girl in a voice soft as a flute.

โ€œDame!โ€ resumed Madame de Saint-Remy; โ€œif she did bear you a little ill-will, poor girl, she could not be much blamed.โ€

โ€œAnd why should she bear me ill-will, good gracious?โ€

โ€œIt appears to me that she is of as good a family, and as pretty as you.โ€

โ€œMother! mother!โ€ cried Louise.

โ€œPrettier a hundred times, madameโ€”not of a better family; but that does not tell me why Louise should bear me ill-will.โ€

โ€œDo you think it will be very amusing for her to be buried alive at Blois, when you are going to shine at Paris?โ€

โ€œBut, madame, it is not I who prevent Louise following me thither; on the contrary, I should certainly be most happy if she came there.โ€

โ€œBut it appears that M. Malicorne, who is all-powerful at courtโ€”โ€

โ€œAh! so much the worse, madame,โ€ said Malicorne, โ€œevery one for himself in this poor world.โ€

โ€œMalicorne! Malicorne!โ€ said Montalais. Then stooping towards the young man:โ€”

โ€œOccupy Madame de Saint-Remy, either in disputing with her, or making it up with her; I must speak to Louise.โ€ And, at the same time, a soft pressure of the hand recompensed Malicorne for his future obedience. Malicorne went grumbling towards Madame de Saint-Remy, whilst Montalais said to her friend, throwing one arm around her neck:โ€”

โ€œWhat is the matter? Tell me. Is it true that you would not love me if I were to shine, as your mother says?โ€

โ€œOh, no!โ€ said the young girl, with difficulty restraining her tears; โ€œon the contrary, I rejoice at your good fortune.โ€

โ€œRejoice! why, one would say you are ready to cry!โ€

โ€œDo people never weep except from envy?โ€

โ€œOh! yes, I understand; I am going to Paris and that word Paris recalls to your mind a certain cavalierโ€”โ€

โ€œAure!โ€

โ€œA certain cavalier who formerly lived near Blois, and who now resides at Paris.โ€

โ€œIn truth, I know not what ails me, but I feel stifled.โ€

โ€œWeep, then, weep, as you cannot give me a smile!โ€

Louise raised her sweet face, which the tears, rolling down one after the other, illumined like diamonds.

โ€œCome, confess,โ€ said Montalais.

โ€œWhat shall I confess?โ€

โ€œWhat makes you weep; people donโ€™t weep without cause. I am your friend; whatever you would wish me to do, I will do. Malicorne is more powerful than you would think. Do you wish to go to Paris?โ€

โ€œAlas!โ€ sighed Louise.

โ€œDo you wish to come to Paris?โ€

โ€œTo remain here alone, in this old castle, I who have enjoyed the delightful habit of listening to your songs, of pressing your hand, of running about the park with you. Oh! how I shall be ennuyee! how quickly I shall die!โ€

โ€œDo you wish to come to Paris?โ€

Louise breathed another sigh.

โ€œYou do not answer me.โ€

โ€œWhat would you that I should reply?โ€

โ€œYes or no; that is not very difficult, I think.โ€

โ€œOh! you are very fortunate, Montalais!โ€

โ€œThat is to say you would like to be in my place.โ€

Louise was silent.

โ€œLittle obstinate thing!โ€ said Montalais; โ€œdid ever any one keep her secrets from her friend thus? But, confess that you would like to come to Paris; confess that you are dying with the wish to see Raoul again.โ€

โ€œI cannot confess that.โ€

โ€œThen you are wrong.โ€

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