TEN" YEARS LATER. 95 that La Valliere? Vvliat country-town have we had sent here?" "Montalais?" said the chevalier. "Oh, I know her; she is a good sort of a girl, whom we shall find amusing enough. La Valliere is a charming girl, slightly lame." "Ah, bah!" said De Wardes. "Do not be absurd, De Wardes, there are some very characteristic and ingenious Latin axioms upon lame ladies." "Gentlemen, gentlemen," said De Guiche, looking at Eaoul with uneasiness, "be a little careful, I entreat you." But the uneasiness of the count, in appearance, at least, was not needed. Eaoul had preserved the firmest and most indilferent countenance, although he had not lost a word that had passed. He seemed to keep an account of the insolence and license of the two speakers in order to settle matters with them at the earliest opportunity. De Wardes seemed to guess what was passing in his mind, and continued: "Who are these young ladies' lovers?" "Montalais' lover?" said the chevalier. "Yes, Montalais first." "You, I, or De Guiche — whoever likes, in fact." "And the other?" "Mademoiselle de la Valliere?" "Yes." "Take care, gentlemen," exclaimed De Guiche, anxious to put a stop to De Wardes' reply; "take care, madame is listening to us." Eaoul thrust his hand up to the wrist in his justau-coiys coat in great agitation. But the very malignity which he saw was excited against these poor girls made him take a serious resolution. "Poor Louise," he thought, "has come here only with an honorable object in view, and under honorable protec- tion; and I must learn what that object is which she has in view, and who it is that protects her," And following Malicorne's maneuver, he made his way to- ward a group of the maids of honor. The presentations soon terminated. The king, who had done nothing but look at and admire madame, shortly afterward left the re- ception-room accompanied by the two queens. The Cheva- lier de Lorraine resumed his place beside Monsieur, and, as he accompanied him, insinuated a few drops of the poison which he had collected during the last hour, while looking at some of the faces in the court, and suspecting that
