44:4 TEN YEAKS LATEE.
- 'I obey your majesty," said Malicorne. leading the way
up the staircase. "Get Mademoiselle de Montalais to come down," said the king, "and do not breathe a word to her of my visit." Malicorne bowed in sign of obedience, and proceeded up the staircase. But the king, after a hasty reflection, fol- lowed him, and that, too, with such rapidity that, although Malicorne was already more than halfway up the staircase, the king reached the room at the same moment he did. He then observed, by the door which remained half open be- hind Malicorne, La Valliere, sitting in an armchair, with her head thrown back, and in the opposite corner Monta- lais, who, in her dressing-gown, was standing before a look- ing-glass, engaged in arranging her hair, and parleying all the while with Malicorne. The king hurriedly opened the door and entered the room. Montalais called out at the noise made by the opening of the door, and recognizing the king, made her escape. La Valliere rose from her seat, like a dead person who had been galvanized, and then fell back in her armchair. The king advanced slowly toward her. "You wished for an audience, I believe," he said coldly; "I am ready to hear you. Speak." St. Aignan, faithful to his character of being deaf, blind and dumb, had stationed himself in a corner of the door, upon a stool which he fortuitously found there. Concealed by the tapestry which covered the doorway, and leaning his back against the wall, he could in this way listen with- out being seen, resigning himself to the post of a good watchdog, who patiently waits and watches without ever getting in his master's way. La Valliere, terror-stricken at the king's irritated aspect, again rose a second time, and assuming a posture full of humility and entreaty, murmured: "Forgive me, sire." "What need is there for my forgiveness?" asked Louis. "Sire, I have been guilty of a great fault; nay, more than a great fault, a great crime." "You?" "Sire, I have offended your majesty." "Not the slightest degree in the world," replied Louis XIV. "I implore you, sire, not to maintain toward me that ter- rible seriousness of manner which reveals your majesty's just anger. I feel I have offended you, sire; but I wish to
