hich I had in my head by taking the rooms
in which my mother died, with one room below them. This I did, hiring
such furniture as I needed, which was not a great deal. To Simon Fleix,
whose assistance in these matters was invaluable, I passed on much of M.
de Rosny's advice, bidding him ruffle it with the best in his station,
and inciting him to labour for my advancement by promising to make his
fortune whenever my own should be assured. I hoped, indeed, to derive
no little advantage from the quickness of wit; which had attracted M. de
Rosny's attention; although I did not fail to take into account at the
same time that the lad was wayward and fitful, prone at one time to
depression, and at another to giddiness, and equally uncertain in either
mood.

M. de Rambouillet being unable to attend the LEVEE, had appointed me to
wait upon him at six in the evening; at which hour I presented myself at
his lodgings, attended by Simon Fleix. I found him in the midst of
half a dozen gentlemen whose habit it was to attend him upon all public
occasions; and these gallants, greeting me with the same curious and
suspicious glances which I have seen hounds bestow on a strange dog
introduced into their kennel, I was speedily made to feel that it is one
thing to have business at Court, and another to be well received there.

M. de Rambouillet, somewhat to my surprise, did nothing to remove
this impression. On all ordinary occasions a man of stiff and haughty
bearing, and thoroughly disliking, though he could not prevent, the
intrusion of a third party into a transaction which promised an infinity
of credit, he received me so coldly and with so much reserve as for the
moment to dash my spirits and throw me back on myself.

During the journey to the castle, however, which we performed on foot,
attended by half a dozen armed servants bearing torches, I had time to
recall M. de Rosny's advice, and to bethink me of the intimacy which
that great man had permitted me; with so much effect in the way of
heartening me, that as we crossed the courtyard of the castle I
advanced myself, not without some murmuring on the part of others, to
Rambouillet's elbow, considering that as I was attached to him by the
king's command, this was my proper place. I had no desire to quarrel,
however, and persisted for some time in disregarding the nudges and
muttered words which were exchanged round me, and even the efforts which
were made as we mounted the stairs