"An hour which others select, it seems, for amusing themselves," replied the prince grumblingly.
This untoward remark was the signal for a general rout; the women fled like a flight of terrified birds, the guitar-player vanished like a shadow, Malicorne, still protected by Montalais, who purposely widened out her dress, glided behind the hanging tapestry. As for Manicamp, he went to the asssistance of De Guiche, who naturally remained near madame, and both of them, with the princess herself, courageously sustained the attack. The comte was too happy to bear malice against the husband; but Monsieur bore a grudge against his wife. Nothing was wanting but a quarrel; he sought it, and the hurried departure of the crowd, which had been so joyous before he arrived, and was so disturbed by his entrance, furnished him with a pretext.
"Why do they run away at the sight of me?" he inquired, in a supercilious tone; to which remark madame replied, "That, whenever the master of the house made his appearance, the family kept aloof out of respect." As she said this she made so funny and so pretty a grimace that De Guiche and Manicamp could not control themselves; they burst into a peal of laughter; madame followed their example, and even Monsieur himself could not resist it, and he was obliged to sit down, as for laughing he could scarcely keep his equilibrium. However, he very soon left off, but his anger had increased. He was still more furious from having allowed himself to laugh than from having seen others laugh. He looked at Manicamp steadily, not venturing to show his anger toward De Guiche; but, at a sign which displayed no little amount of annoyance, Manicamp and De Guiche left the room, so that madame, left alone, began sadly to pick up her pearls, no longer laughing, and speaking still less.
"I am very happy," said the duke, "to find myself treated as a stranger here, madame;" and he left the room in a passion. On his way out he met Montalais, who was in attendance in the anteroom. "It is very agreeable to pay you a visit here, but outside the door."
Montalais made a very low obeisance. "I do not quite understand what your royal highness does me the honor to say."
"I say that when you are all laughing together in madame's apartment, he is an unwelcome visitor who does not remain outside."
"Your royal highness does not think, and does not speak so, of yourself."
