TEN YEARS LATER. 43 "At all events," he observed, "I have no personal ill-will toward Monsieur de Bragelonne; I do not know him even." "In any case," said De Guiche, with a certain amount of severity in his tone of voice, "do not forget one circum- stance, that Raoul is my most intimate friend;" a remark at which De Wardes bowed. The conversation terminated there, although De Guiche tried his utmost to draw out his secret from him; but, doubtless, De Wardes had determined to say nothing fur- ther, and he remained impenetrable. De Guiche, there- fore, promised himself a more satisfactory result with Eaoul. In the meantime, they had reached the Palais Eoyal, which was surrounded by a crowd of lookers-on. The household belonging to Monsieur awaited his orders to mount their horses, in order to form part of the escort of the embassadors, to whom had been intrusted the care of bringing the young princess to Paris. The brilliant disphiy of horses, arms, and rich liveries afforded some compensa- tion in those times, thanks to the kindly feelings of the people, and to the traditions of deep devotion to their sovereigns, for the enormous expenses charged upon the taxes. Mazarin had said: "Let them sing, provided they pay;" while Louis XIV.'s remark was, "Let them look." Sight had replaced the voice; the people could still look, but they could no longer siag. De Guiche left De Wardes and Malicorne at the bottom of the grand staircase, while he himself, who shared the favor and good graces of Monsieur with the Chevalier de Lorraine, who always smiled at him most affectionately, while he could not endure him, went straight to the prince's apartments, whom he found engaged in admiring himself in a glass, and in putting rouge on his face. In a corner of the cabinet the Chevalier de Lorraine was extended full length upon some cushions, having just had his long hair curled, with which he was playing in the same manner a woman would have done. The prince turned round as the count entered, and perceiving who it was, said: "Ah! is that you, Guiche; come here and tell me the truth." "You know, my lord, it is one of my defects to speak the truth." "You will hardly believe, De Guiche, how that wicked chevalier has annoyed me." The chevalier shrugged his shoulders. "Well, he pretends," continued the prince, "that Made- moiselle Henrietta is better looking as a Avoman than I am as a man."
