his eyes resting on me. The relative positions of
Bruhl and myself as the agents of Rosny and Turenne occurred to him for
the first time, I think, and suggested the idea, perhaps, that I had
laid a trap for him, and that he had fallen into it. At any rate his
face grew darker and darker, and at last, 'A nice kettle of fish this is
you have prepared for us, sir!' he muttered, gazing at me gloomily.

The sudden change in his humour took even courtiers by surprise. Faces
a moment before broad with smiles grew long again. The less important
personages looked uncomfortably at one another, and with one accord
frowned on me. 'If your Majesty would please to hear the end of the
story at another time?' I suggested humbly, beginning to wish with all
my heart that I had never said a word.

'Chut!' he answered, rising, his face still betraying his perturbation,
'Well, be it so. For the present you may go, sir. Duchess, give me
Zizi, and come to my closet. I want you to see my puppies. Retz, my good
friend, do you come too. I have something to say to you. Gentlemen, you
need not wait. It is likely I shall be late.'

And, with the utmost abruptness, he broke up the circle.

CHAPTER XVII. THE JACOBIN MONK.

Had I needed any reminder of the uncertainty of Court favour, or an
instance whence I might learn the lesson of modesty, and so stand in
less danger of presuming on my new and precarious prosperity, I had it
in this episode, and in the demeanour of the company round me. On the
circle breaking up in confusion, I found myself the centre of general
regard, but regard of so dubious a character, the persons who would have
been the first to compliment me had the king retired earlier, standing
farthest aloof now, that I felt myself rather insulted than honoured by
it. One or two, indeed, of the more cautious spirits did approach me;
but it was with the air of men providing against a danger particularly
remote, their half-hearted speeches serving only to fix them in my
memory as belonging to a class, especially abhorrent to me--the class, I
mean, of those who would run at once with the hare and the hounds.

I was rejoiced to find that on one person, and that the one whose
disposition towards me was, next to the king's, of first importance,
this episode had produced a different impression, Feeling, as I made for
the door, a touch on my arm, I turned to find M. de Rambouillet at my
elbow, regarding me with a glance of mingled esteem