“Oh!” said the king, smiling, “that is mere report.” “But rare enough, at court, sire, to believe when it is spread.” “Perhaps you are right. Is she well born?” “Excellently; the daughter of the Marquis de la Vallière, and step-daughter of that good M. de Saint-Remy.” “Ah, yes! my aunt’s major-domo; I remember; and I remember now that I saw her as I passed through Blois. She was presented to the queens. I have even to reproach myself that I did not on that occasion pay her the attention she deserved.” “Oh, sire! I trust that your majesty will now repair time lost.” “And the report--you tell me--is, that Mademoiselle de la Vallière never had a lover.” “In any case, I do not think your majesty would be much alarmed at the rivalry.” “Yet, stay,” said the king, in a very serious tone of voice. “Your majesty?” “I remember.” “Ah!” “If she has no lover, she has, at least, a betrothed.” “A betrothed!” “What! Count, do you not know that?” “No.” “You, the man who knows all the news?” “Your majesty will excuse me. You know this betrothed, then?” “Assuredly! his father came to ask me to sign the marriage contract: it is--” The king was about to pronounce the Vicomte de Bragelonne’s name, when he stopped, and knitted his brows. “It is--” repeated Saint-Aignan, inquiringly. “I don’t remember now,” replied Louis XIV., endeavoring to conceal an annoyance he had some trouble to disguise. “Can I put your majesty in the way?” inquired the Comte de Saint-Aignan. “No; for I no longer remember to whom I intended to refer; indeed, I only remember very indistinctly, that one of the maids of honor was to marry--the name, however, has escaped me.” “Was it Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente he was going to marry?” inquired Saint-Aignan. “Very likely,” said the king. “In that case, the intended was M. de Montespan; but Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente did not speak of it, it seemed to me, in such a manner as would frighten suitors away.” “At all events,” said the king, “I know nothing, or almost nothing, about Mademoiselle de la Vallière. Saint-Aignan, I rely upon you to procure me every information about her.” “Yes, sire, and when shall I have the honor of seeing your majesty again, to give you the latest news?” “Whenever you have procured it.” “I shall obtain it speedily, then, if the information can be as quickly obtained as my wish to see your majesty again.” “Well said, count! By the by, has Madame displayed any ill-feeling against this poor girl?” “None, sire.” “Madame did not get angry, then?” “I do not know; I only know that she laughed continually.”