n very busy passing on the titles of the numerous applicants for admission, and exchanging usually a smile or a few words of greeting with them, for his frank, handsome face was a well-

w yards of a deep gravel-pit had done for him what ten campaigns might have failed to accomplish. Now as a trusted officer of the king's guard, young, gallant, and popular, his lot was indeed an enviable one. And yet, with the strange perversity of human nature, he was already surfeited with the dull if magnificent routine of the king's

nac!" he cried. "You ca

er the water! But there is a long step between a subaltern in t

give it all to be dancing down the Lachine Rapids in a birch canoe, or to see

n as he can never stand against. With the Iroquois all dancing the scalp-dance, and Dongan behind them in New York to whoop them on, they will need me, and they will find me waiting when

cried De Catinat, laughing, while the stern old

, and advanced, as the door opened, with the assured air of a man whose rights are beyond disp

e Vivonne," said he, "but yo

e stepped back with gray face and staring e

u that it is

credible. It

poss

will let

leave me no

ave one word

, monsieur, it

one

s not rest wit

ad some thoughts of forcing a passage. Then turning on his heel, he hasten

like as not, and a pleasant little choice between breaking my orders and making an enemy of her for life. I'd rather hold Fort Richelieu against the Iroquois than the

ng, Captain

, her fresh face and sparkling black eyes t

you see. I canno

having asked monsie

or else I cannot help talking to you," whispere

enon to the king. You will h

elle. And how is Mad

d; but it is also very, very sad. We are not very cheerful when Monsieur Godet has

let the Sorbonne and Geneva fight it out between t

to Madame de Maintenon a lit

alk to Mademoisel

isk of dark skirts, and the soubrett

ls, while a rope of the same, each one worth a bourgeois' income, was coiled in and out through her luxuriant hair. The lady was past her first youth, it is true, but the magnificent curves of her queenly figure, the purity of her complexion, the brightness of her deep-lashed blue eyes and the clear regularity of her features enabled her still to claim to be the most han

e Montespan, with a smile which was more emba

le servant

nd here, for there has been some

cerned to

It is almost too laughable to mention, but he

tune to have to r

had drawn up her superb figure, and her large bl

's order,

ld cast a public slight upon my family? F

the king thro

ture to exclude a Mortemart through the mouth

it may prove

to the dreamer. Go, tell the king that I

ible, m

d w

orbidden to ca

ry any

om you,

rry a message to the king from any adventuress, from any decayed governess"-she laughed shrill

. It pains me deeply to be

nd that you have every reason to be deeply pained. For the

st, m

carry it

or, but he slipped in front

urself, madame!" he entreate

ers, whose sergeant had drawn them off a few pace

that I will

er been at the

hall be t

ruin me if

he less, I

erday had held the fortunes of the whole court in the hollow of her hand, and who, with her beauty, her wit, and her energy, might very well be in the same position tomorrow? If she passed him, then his future was ruined with the king, who never brooked the smallest deviation from his orders. On the other hand, if he thr

he soothingly, "the king will be on

not yet

e hour has

ld I wait, li

t a momen

." She took a step fo

he sound of moving feet from within, and h

Madame's mess

senses! Go, tell the king t

e yet. "Shall I say it th

yours

bli

or his pri

a reason for

Say what I have to

ficer's dilemma

forwards on his high-heeled shoes, his stick tapping, his broad skirts flapping, and his courti

e a note

, si

pon Madame de Montespan standing very stiff and erect in the middle of the passage. A dark flush of anger shot to

ted this honour,

pected this i

adame? You fo

who have forg

trude u

even by him who has my heart. But it is hard to hear that one's brother has been wounded through the

e to speak of

see you, t

ur cha

hat h

fo

e with triumph shining in her eyes. Her beauty and her spirit had never failed her yet, and now that she had the monarch's promise of an interview she ne