“Will your majesty pardon me; but I have just met one of our three loquacious wood-nymphs, and I confess that my attention has been taken away from other matters.” “Ah!” said the king, eagerly, “you have found, then--” “The one who deigned to speak of me in such advantageous terms; and, having found mine, I was searching for yours, sire, when I had the happiness to meet your majesty.” “Very well; but Mademoiselle de la Vallière before everything else,” said the king, faithful to the character he had assumed. “Oh! our charming invalid!” said Saint-Aignan; “how fortunately her fainting fit came on, since your majesty had already occupied yourself about her.” “What is the name of your fair lady, Saint-Aignan? Is it a secret?” “It ought to be a secret, and a very great one, even; but your majesty is well aware that no secret can possibly exist for you.” “Well, what is her name?” “Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente.” “Is she pretty?” “Exceedingly, sire; and I recognized the voice which pronounced my name in such tender accents. I accosted her, questioned her as well as I was able to do, in the midst of the crowd; and she told me, without suspecting anything, that a little while ago she was under the great oak, with her two friends, when the sound of a wolf or a robber had terrified them, and made them run away.” “But,” inquired the king, anxiously, “what are the names of these two friends?” “Sire,” said Saint-Aignan, “will your majesty send me forthwith to the Bastile?” “What for?” “Because I am an egotist and a fool. My surprise was so great at such a conquest, and at so fortunate a discovery, that I went no further in my inquiries. Besides, I did not think that your majesty would attach any very great importance to what you heard, knowing how much your attention was taken up by Mademoiselle de la Vallière; and then, Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente left me precipitately, to return to Mademoiselle de la Vallière.” “Let us hope, then, that I shall be as fortunate as yourself. Come, Saint-Aignan.” “Your majesty is ambitions, I perceive, and does not wish to allow any conquest to escape you. Well, I assure you that I will conscientiously set about my inquiries; and, moreover, from one or the other of those Three Graces we shall learn the names of the rest, and by the names their secrets.” “I, too,” said the king, “only require to hear her voice to know it again. Come, let us say no more about it, but show me where poor La Vallière is.”