de Montalais did the
same. The rumor of the intended promenade was soon spread all over the
palace; ten minutes afterward Malicorne learned Madame's resolution, and
slipped under Montalais' door a note, in the following terms:

"La Valliere must positively pass the night with Madame."

Montalais, in pursuance of the compact she had entered into, began by
burning the paper, and then sat down to reflect. Montalais was a girl
full of expedients, and so had very soon arranged her plan. Toward five
o'clock, which was the hour for her to repair to Madame's apartment, she
was running across the courtyard, and had reached within a dozen paces a
group of officers, when she uttered a cry, fell gracefully on one knee,
rose again, and walked on limpingly. The gentlemen ran forward to her
assistance; Montalais had sprained her foot. Faithful to the discharge
of her duty, she insisted, however, notwithstanding her accident, upon
going to Madame's apartment.

"What is the matter, and why do you limp so?" she inquired: "I mistook
you for La Valliere."

Montalais related how it had happened, that in hurrying on, in order to
arrive as quickly as possible, she had sprained her foot. Madame seemed
to pity her, and wished to have a surgeon sent for immediately, but she,
assuring her that there was nothing really serious in the accident,
said, "My only regret, madame, is that it will preclude my attendance on
you, and I should have begged Mademoiselle de la Valliere to take my
place with your royal highness, but--" Seeing that Madame frowned, she
added, "I have not done so."

"Why did you not do so?" inquired Madame.

"Because poor La Valliere seemed so happy to have her liberty for a
whole evening and night too, that I did not feel courageous enough to
ask her to take my place."

"What! is she so delighted as that?" inquired Madame, struck by these
words.

"She is wild with delight; she, who is always so melancholy, was singing
like a bird. Besides, your highness knows how much she detests going
out, and also that her character has a spice of wildness in it."

"Oh, oh!" thought Madame, "this extreme delight hardly seems natural to
me."

"She has already made all her preparations for dining in her own room
tete-a-tete with one of her favorite books. And then, as your highness
has six other young ladies who would be delighted to accompany you, I
did not make my proposal to La Valliere." Madame did not say a word in
reply.

"Ha