war would be a very sanguinary one, and that he had determined to keep him close to his own person. The Queen-dowager, who was present, exclaimed, "She had also been thinking the same thing, that he ought not to be exposed to a long campaign, that the place of premier maitre d'hôtel was vacant in her household, and that she would give it to him." "No," said the King, "I shall make him grand equerry to myself." They thus disputed one with the other for the pleasure of advancing Fortuné, and the Queen, afraid of making known the secret emotions that were already agitating her heart, acceded to the King the gratification of appropriating the services of the Chevalier.
Hardly a day passed that he did not call for his Turkey-leather trunk, and take out a new dress. He was certainly the most magnificent prince at court, insomuch that the Queen asked him sometimes, by what means his father could be at such an expense for him; at other times she would banter him, "Own the truth," she said, "you have a mistress; it is she who sends you all the beautiful things we see." Fortuné blushed, and respectfully replied to all the various questions the Queen put to him.
On the other hand, he acquitted himself of his duties admirably. Sensibly alive to the King's merits, he attached himself more to him than he wished to do. "What is my fate?" said he, "I love a great King, without any hope of his loving me, or that he will ever know what I suffer." The King, on his part, loaded him with favours; nothing was well done that was not done by the handsome Chevalier. The Queen, deceived by his dress, seriously thought of the means of contracting a secret marriage with him. The inequality of their birth was the only thing which troubled her.
She was not the only one entertaining such feelings for Fortuné; the handsomest women of the court were taken with him. He was overwhelmed with tender epistles, with assignations, with presents, and a thousand gallantries, to all of which he replied with so much indifference, that they doubted not he had a mistress in his own country. It was in vain that, at the great entertainments of the court, he took no pains to distinguish himself. He carried away the prize at all the tournaments; in hunting, he killed more game than any one else; he danced at all the balls with more grace and
