446 TEN" TEARS LATER. "Oh, Madamoiselle de la Valliere," said the king bit- terly, "I prefer those persons who exculpate themselves without incriminating others." "Sire!" "Yes; and I confess that I greatly regret to perceive that an easy justification as your own might be should have been complicated in my presence by a tissue of reproaches and imputations against others." "And which you do not believe?" exclaimed LaValliere. The king remained silent, "Nay, but tell me," repeated La Valliere vehemently. "I regret to confess it," repeated the king, bowing coldly. The young girl uttered a deep groan, striking her hands together in despair. "You do not believe me, then," said the king, who still remained silent, while poor La Valliere's features became visibly change<d at his continued silence. "Therefore, you believe," she said, "that I settled this ridiculous, this infamous plot of trifling in so shameless a manner with your majesty?" "Nay," said the king; "it is neither ridiculous nor in- famous, it is not even a plot; it is merely a jest, more or less amusing, and nothing more." "Oh!" murmured the young girl, "the king does not, and will not, believe me, then?" "No, indeed, I will not believe you," said the king. "Besides, in point of fact, what can be more natural? The king, you argue, follows me, listens to me, watches me; the king wishes perhaps to amuse himself at my expense; I will amuse myself at his, and as the king is very tender- hearted, I will take his heart by storm." La Valliere hid her face in her hands as she stifled her sobs. The king continued most pitilessly; he revenged himself upon the poor victim before him for all that he had himself suffered. "Let us invent, then, this story of my loving him and preferring him to others. The king is so simple and so conceited that he will believe me; and then we can go and tell others how credulous the king is, and can enjoy a laugh at his expense." "Oh!" exclaimed LaValliere, "to think that, to believe that! it is frightful." "And," pursued the king, "that is not all; if this self- conceited prince should take our jest seriously, if he should be imprudent enough to exhibit before others anything like
