will set out this evening at eight o'clock."

"Your majesty has fixed upon the exact minute."

"And you positively will tell me nothing more?"

"It is because I have nothing more to tell you. Industry goes for
something in this world, sire; but yet chance plays so important a part
in it that I have been accustomed to leave her the narrowest part,
confident that she will manage so as to always take the widest."

"Well, I abandon myself entirely to you."

"And you are quite right."

Comforted in this manner, the king went immediately to Madame, to whom
he announced the intended expedition. Madame fancied at the first moment
that she saw in this unexpectedly arranged party a plot of the king's to
converse with La Valliere, either on the road under cover of the
darkness, or in some other way, but she took especial care to show
nothing of her fancies to her brother-in-law, and accepted the
invitation with a smile upon her lips. She gave directions aloud that
her maids of honor should accompany her, secretly intending in the
evening to take the most effectual steps to interfere with his majesty's
attachment. Then, when she was alone, and at the very moment the poor
lover, who had issued his orders for the departure, was reveling in the
idea that Mademoiselle de la Valliere would form one of the party--at
the very moment, perhaps, when he was luxuriating in the sad happiness
which persecuted lovers enjoy of realizing by the sense of sight alone
all the delights of an interdicted possession--at that very moment, we
say, Madame, who was surrounded by her maids of honor, said: "Two ladies
will be enough for me this evening, Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente and
Mademoiselle de Montalais."

La Valliere had anticipated the omission of herself and was prepared for
it; but persecution had rendered her courageous, and she did not give
Madame the pleasure of seeing on her face the impression of the shock
her heart had received. On the contrary, smiling with that ineffable
gentleness which gave an angelic expression to her features--"In that
case, madame, I shall be at liberty this evening, I suppose?" she said.

"Of course."

"I shall be able to employ it, then, in progressing with that piece of
tapestry which your highness has been good enough to notice, and which I
have already had the honor of offering to you."

And having made a respectful obeisance, she withdrew to her own
apartment; Mesdemoiselles de Tonnay-Charente and