"Yes, Aristandre has inquired. The lay brother did his duty." "But there was something about this D'Alvimar that I cannot understand, cousin. A man so well-born, and whose manners were so refined!" "The ambition of a courtier and Spanish poverty!" replied Bois-Doré. "And furthermore, cousin, there is a philosophical paradox that has often come to my mind: that we are all equal before God, and that he sets no more store by a nobleman's soul than by a serf's. On that point, it may be that the Calvinist doctrine is not far out of the way." "By the way," rejoined Guillaume, "speaking of Calvinists, cousin, do you know that the king's affairs are going badly over yonder, and that he is having no success at all in taking Montauban? I learned at Bourges, from some very well-informed persons, that on the first pretext the siege would be raised, and that may change the whole political status once more. Perhaps you were a little too hasty about abjuring!" "Abjuring! abjuring!" echoed Bois-Doré, shaking his head; "I never abjured anything. I reflect, I discuss matters with myself, and I take one side or the other, according to the arguments that come to my mind. In reality----" "In reality, you are like me," laughed Guillaume; "you think of nothing except being an honest man." The supper, although the party was small, was served with extraordinary magnificence. The hall was decorated with flowers and foliage entwined with gold and silver ribbons; the most beautiful pieces of silverware and porcelain were brought forth; the dishes and wines were most exquisite. Five or six of the most intimate friends and neighbors had arrived at the last stroke of the bell; their coming was another surprise for the marquis. Adamas had sent messengers all over the neighborhood. There was no music during the banquet; they preferred to talk, for they had so much to say to one another! Adamas contented himself with a flourish of trumpets in the courtyard to announce each course. Lauriane was seated opposite the marquis, with Mario at her right. Lucilio was of the party; they had no reason to fear the evil intentions of any guest. [Footnote 23: The play upon words consisted in the fact that _prétendus_, the word used by Monsieur Poulain, also, means _suitors_. (Cf. the colloquial English phrase: his _intended_.)] XXXVII Half an hour after they left the table, Adamas requested his master to ascend with his guests to the Salle des Verdures, where a fresh surprise was prepared. It was an entertainment after the fashion then in vogue, carried out as well as it was possible to do it on such brief notice and in so confined a space. The end of the room was fitted up as a stage, with rich carpets laid upon trestles, bearing hangings for a frame, and natural foliage for wings.