92 TEK YEARS LATER. though to ask her, "Do you not see how much he resembles his father?" and finally it was remarked that Monsieur watched everybody, and seemed very discontented. After the reception of the princess and ambassadors. Monsieur solicited the king's permission to present to him as well as to madame the persons belonging to their new household. "Are you aware, vicomte," inquired the Prince de Conde, of Kaoul, "whether the household has been selected by a person of taste, and whether there are any faces worth looking at?" "I have not the slightest idea, monseigneur," replied Kaoul. "You affect ignorance, surely." "In what way, monseigneur?" "You are a friend of De Guiche, who is one of the friends of the prince." "That may be so, monseigneur; but the matter having no interest whatever for me, I-never questioned De Guiche on the subject; and De Guiche, on his part, never having been questioned, has not communicated any particulars to me." "But Manicamp?" "It is true I saw Manicamp at Havre, and during the journey here, but I was very careful to be as little inquisi- tive toward him as I had been toward De Guiche. Besides, is it likely that Manicamp should know anything of such matters, for he is a person of only secondary importance?" "My dear vicomte, do you not know better than that?" said the prince. "Why, it is these persons of secondary importance who, on such occasions, have all the influence; and the truth is, that nearly everything has been done through Manicamp's presentations to De Guiche, and through De Guiche to Monsieur." "I assure you, monseigneur, I was completely ignorant of that," said Raoul, "and what your highness does me the honor to impart is perfectly new to me." "I will most readily believe you, although it seems in- credible; besides, we shall not have long to wait. See, the flying squadron is advancing, as good Queen Catherine use to say. Ah! ah! what pretty faces!" A bevy of young girls at this moment entered the salon, conducted by Mme. de Navailles, and to Manicamp's credit be it said, if, indeed, he had taken that part in their selec- tion which the Prince de Conde had assigned him, it was a display calculated to dazzle those, who, like the prince.
