Behind Madame de Saint-Remy stood Mademoiselle de laValliere. She heard the explosion of maternal anger, and asshe divined the cause of it, she entered the chambertrembling, and perceived the unlucky Malicorne, whose woefulcountenance might have softened or set laughing whoeverobserved it coolly. He had promptly intrenched himselfbehind a large chair, as if to avoid the first attacks ofMadame de Saint-Remy; he had no hopes of prevailing withwords, for she spoke louder than he, and without stopping;but he reckoned upon the eloquence of his gestures. The oldlady would neither listen to nor see anything; Malicorne hadlong been one of her antipathies. But her anger was toogreat not to overflow from Malicorne on his accomplice.Montalais had her turn.

"And you, mademoiselle; you may be certain I shall informmadame of what is going on in the apartment of one of herladies of honor!"

"Oh, dear mother!" cried Mademoiselle de la Valliere, "formercy's sake, spare - - "

"Hold your tongue, mademoiselle, and do not uselesslytrouble yourself to intercede for unworthy people; that ayoung maid of honor like you should be subjected to a badexample is, certes, a misfortune great enough; but that youshould sanction it by your indulgence is what I will notallow."

"But in truth," said Montalais, rebelling again, "I do notknow under what pretense you treat me thus. I am doing noharm, I suppose?"

"And that great good-for-nothing, mademoiselle," resumedMadame de Saint-Remy, pointing to Malicorne, "is he here todo any good, I ask you?"

"He is neither here for good nor harm, madame; he comes tosee me, that is all."

"It is all very well! all very well!" said the old lady."Her royal highness shall be informed of it, and she willjudge."

"At all events, I do not see why," replied Montalais, "itshould be forbidden M. Malicorne to have intentions towardsme, if his intentions are honorable."

"Honorable intentions with such a face!" cried Madame deSaint-Remy.

"I thank you in the name of my face, madame," saidMalicorne.

"Come, my daughter, come," continued Madame de Saint-Remy;"we will go and inform madame that at the very moment she isweeping for her husband, at the moment when we are allweeping for a master in this old castle of Blois, the abodeof grief, there are people who amuse themselves withflirtations!"

"Oh!" cried both the accused, with one voice.

"A maid of honor! a maid of honor!" cried the old lady,lifting her hands towards heaven.

"Well! it is there you are mistaken, madame," saidMontalais, highly exasperated; "I am no longer a maid ofhonor, of madame's at least."

"Have you given in your resignation, mademoiselle? That iswell! I cannot but applaud such a determination, and I doapplaud it."

"I do not give in my resignation, madame; I take anotherservice, - that is all."

"In the bourgeoisie or in the robe?" asked Madame deSaint-Remy, disdainfully.

"Please to learn, madame, that I am not a girl to serveeither bourgeoises or robines, and that instead of themiserable court at which you vegetate, I am going to residein a court almost royal."

"Ha, ha! a royal court," said Madame de Saint-Remy, forcinga laugh; "a royal court! What think you of that, mydaughter?"

And she turned round towards Mademoiselle de la Valliere,whom she would by main force have dragged away fromMontalais, and who, instead of obeying the impulse of Madamede Saint-Remy, looked first at her mother and then atMontalais with her beautiful conciliatory eyes.

"I did not say a royal court, madame," replied Montalais;"because Madame Henrietta of England, who is about to becomethe wife of S. A. R. Monsieur, is not a queen. I said almostroyal, and I spoke correctly, since she will besister-in-law to the king."

A thunderbolt falling upon the castle of Blois would nothave astonished Madame de Saint-Remy more than the lastsentence of Montalais.

"What do you say? of Son Altesse Royale Madame Henrietta?"stammered out the old lady.

"I say I am going to belong to her household, as maid ofhonor, that is what I say."

"As maid of honor!" cried, at the same time, Madame deSaint-Remy with despair, and Mademoiselle de la Vallierewith delight.

"Yes, madame, as maid of honor."

The old lady's head sank down as if the blow had been toosevere for her. But, almost immediately recovering herself,she launched a last projectile at her adversary.

"Oh! oh!" said she, "I have heard of many of these sorts ofpromises beforehand, which often lead people to flatterthemselves with wild hopes, and at the last moment, when thetime comes to keep the promises, and have the hopesrealized, they are surprised to see the great credit uponwhich they reckoned vanish like smoke."

"Oh! madame, the credit of my protector is incontestable andhis promises are as good as deeds."

"And would it be indiscreet to ask you the name of thispowerful protector?"

"Oh! mon Dieu! no! it is that gentleman there," saidMontalais, pointing to Malicorne, who, during this scene,had preserved the most imperturbable coolness, and the mostcomic dignity.

"Monsieur!" cried Madame de Saint-Remy, with an explosion ofhilarity, "monsieur is your protector! Is the man whosecredit is so powerful, and whose promises are as good asdeeds, Monsieur Malicorne?"

Malicorne bowed.

As to Montalais, as her sole reply, she drew the brevet fromher pocket, and showed it to the old lady.

"Here is the brevet," said she.

At once all was over. As soon as she had cast a rapid glanceover this fortunate brevet, the good lady clasped her hands,an unspeakable expression of envy and despair contracted hercountenance, and she was obliged to sit down to avoidfainting. Montalais was not malicious enough to rejoiceextravagantly at her victory, or to overwhelm the conqueredenemy, particularly when that enemy was the mother of herfriend; she used then, but did not abuse, her triumph.Malicorne was less generous; he assumed noble poses in hisfauteuil, and stretched himself out with a familiaritywhich, two hours earlier, would have drawn upon him threatsof a caning.

"Maid of honor to the young madame!" repeated Madame deSaint-Remy, still but half convinced.

"Yes, madame, and through the protection of M. Malicorne,moreover."

"It is incredible!" repeated the old lady: "is it notincredible, Louise?" But Louise did not reply; she wassitting, thoughtful, almost sad; passing one hand over herbeautiful brow she sighed heavily.

"Well, but, monsieur," said Madame de Saint-Remy, all atonce, "how did you manage to obtain this post?"

"I asked for it, madame."

"Of whom?"

"One of my friends."

"And have you friends sufficiently powerful at court to giveyou such proofs of their credit?"

"It appears so."

"And may one ask the name of these friends?"

"I did not say I had many friends, madame, I said I had onefriend."

And that friend is called?"

"Peste! madame, you go too far! When one has a friend aspowerful as mine, we do not publish his name in thatfashion, in open day, in order that he may be stolen fromus."

"You are right, monsieur, to be silent as to that name; forI think it would be pretty difficult for you to tell it."

"At all events," said Montalais, "if the friend does notexist, the brevet does, and that cuts short the question."

"Then, I conceive," said Madame de Saint-Remy, with thegracious smile of the cat who is going to scratch, "when Ifound monsieur here just now - - "

"Well?"

"He brought you the brevet."

"Exactly, madame, you have guessed rightly."

"Well, then, nothing can be more moral or proper."

"I think so, madame."

"And I have been wrong, as it appears, in reproaching you,mademoiselle."

"Very wrong, madame; but I am so accustomed to yourreproaches, that I pardon you these."

"In that case, let us begone, Louise; we have nothing to dobut to retire. Well!"

"Madame!" said La Valliere, starting, "did you speak?"

"You do not appear to be listening, my child."

"No, madame, I was thinking."

"About what?"

"A thousand things."

"You bear me no ill-will, at least, Louise?" criedMontalais, pressing her hand.

"And why should I, my dear Aure?" replied the girl in avoice soft as a flute.

"Dame!" resumed Madame de Saint-Remy; "if she did bear you alittle ill-will, poor girl, she could not be much blamed."

"And why should she bear me ill-will, good gracious?"

"It appears to me that she is of as good a family, and aspretty as you."

"Mother! mother!" cried Louise.

"Prettier a hundred times, madame - not of a better family;but that does not tell me why Louise should bear meill-will"

"Do you think it will be very amusing for her to be buriedalive at Blois, when you are going to shine at Paris?"

"But, madame, it is not I who prevent Louise following methither; on the contrary, I should certainly be most happyif she came there."

"But it appears that M. Malicorne, who is all-powerful atcourt - - "

"Ah! so much the worse, madame," said Malicorne, "every onefor himself in this poor world."

"Malicorne! Malicorne!" said Montalais. Then stoopingtowards the young man: -

"Occupy Madame de Saint-Remy, either in disputing with her,or making it up with her; I must speak to Louise." And, atthe same time, a soft pressure of the hand recompensedMalicorne for his future obedience. Malicorne went grumblingtowards Madame de Saint-Remy, whilst Montalais said to herfriend, throwing one arm around her neck: -

"What is the matter? Tell me. Is it true that you would notlove me if I were to shine, as your mother says?"

"Oh, no!" said the young girl, with difficulty restrainingher tears; "on the contrary, I rejoice at your goodfortune."

"Rejoice! why, one would say you are ready to cry!"

"Do people never weep except from envy?"

"Oh! yes, I understand; I am going to Paris, and that wordParis recalls to your mind a certain cavalier - - "

"Aure!"

"A certain cavalier who formerly lived near Blois, and whonow resides at Paris."

"In truth, I know not what ails me, but I feel stifled."

"Weep, then, weep, as you cannot give me a smile!"

Louise raised her sweet face, which the tears, rolling downone after the other, illumined like diamonds.

"Come, confess," said Montalais.

"What shall I confess?"

"What makes you weep; people don't weep without cause. I amyour friend; whatever you would wish me to do, I will do.Malicorne is more powerful than you would think. Do you wishto go to Paris?"

"Alas!" sighed Louise.

"Do you wish to come to Paris?"

"To remain here alone, in this old castle, I who haveenjoyed the delightful habit of listening to your songs, ofpressing your hand, of running about the park with you. Oh!how I shall be ennuyee! how quickly I shall die!"

"Do you wish to come to Paris?"

Louise breathed another sigh.

"You do not answer me."

"What would you that I should reply?"

"Yes or no; that is not very difficult I think."

"Oh! you are very fortunate, Montalais!"

"That is to say you would like to be in my place."

Louise was silent.

"Little obstinate thing!" said Montalais; "did ever any onekeep her secrets from her friend thus? But confess that youwould like to come to Paris, confess that you are dying withthe wish to see Raoul again?"

"I cannot confess that."

"Then you are wrong."

"In what way?"

"Because - - do you see this brevet?"

"To be sure I do."

"Well, I would have got you a similar one."

"By whose means?"

"Malicorne's."

"Aure, are you telling the truth? Is that possible?"

"Malicorne is there; and what he has done for me, he surelycan do for you."

Malicorne had heard his name pronounced twice; he wasdelighted at having an opportunity of coming to a conclusionwith Madame de Saint-Remy, and he turned round: -

"What is the question, mademoiselle?"

"Come hither, Malicorne," said Montalais, with an imperiousgesture. Malicorne obeyed.

"A brevet like this," said Montalais.

"How so?"

"A brevet like this; that is plain enough.

"But - - "

"I want one - I must have one!"

"Oh! oh! you must have one!"

"Yes."

"It is impossible, is it not, M. Malicorne?" said Louise,with her sweet, soft voice.

"If it is for you, mademoiselle - - "

"For me. Yes, Monsieur Malicorne, it would be for me."

"And if Mademoiselle de Montalais asks it at the same time- - "

"Mademoiselle de Montalais does not ask it, she requiresit."

"Well! we will endeavor to obey you, mademoiselle."

"And you will have her named?"

"We will try."

"No evasive answers. Louise de la Valliere shall be maid ofhonor to Madame Henrietta within a week."

"How you talk!"

"Within a week, or else - - "

"Well! or else?"

"You may take back your brevet, Monsieur Malicorne; I willnot leave my friend."

"Dear Montalais!"

"That is right. Keep your brevet, Mademoiselle de laValliere shall be a maid of honor."

"Is that true?"

"Quite true."

"I may then hope to go to Paris?"

"Depend upon it."

"Oh! Monsieur Malicorne, what joy!" cried Louise, clappingher hands, and bounding with pleasure.

"Little dissembler!" said Montalais, "try again to make mebelieve you are not in love with Raoul."

Louise blushed like a rose in June, but instead of replying,she ran and embraced her mother. "Madame," said she, "do youknow that M. Malicorne is going to have me appointed maid ofhonor?"

"M. Malicorne is a prince in disguise," replied the oldlady, "he is all-powerful, seemingly."

"Should you also like to be maid of honor?" asked Malicorneof Madame de Saint-Remy. "Whilst I am about it, I might aswell get everybody appointed."

And upon that he went away, leaving the poor lady quitedisconcerted.

"Humph!" murmured Malicorne as he descended the stairs, - "Humph! there goes another note of a thousand livres! but Imust get through as well as I can; my friend Manicamp doesnothing for nothing."