"All at once Monsieur de Langeais, Monsieur de Boutières, and the Comte de Sancerre were announced,--three gentlemen of the court, friends of Monseigneur, but much closer friends of Madame d'Étampes. All three were wrapped in great dark cloaks; and although they came in laughing, I seemed to feel that they brought disaster with them; and my instinct, alas! was not far out of the way. "The Comte de Montgommery rose and advanced to greet the new-comers with the hospitable and courtly manner which became him so well. "'Welcome, my friends!' said he to the three, as he shook hands with them. "At a sign from him I came forward to take their cloaks, and all of them sat down. "'What good fortune brings you to my poor quarters?' the count asked. "'A threefold bet,' replied Monsieur de Boutières; 'and your presence here, my dear Count, wins mine for me on the spot.' "'As for mine,' said Monsieur de Langeais, 'it was won before we came here.' "'And mine,' said the Comte de Sancerre, 'I shall win in a moment, as you will see.' "'What were your bets, pray, gentlemen?' said Montgommery. "'Well,' said Monsieur de Boutières, 'Langeais here made a bet with D'Enghien that the Dauphin would not be at the Louvre this evening. We have been there, and have duly decided that D'Enghien has lost.' "'As for De Boutières,' said the Comte de Sancerre, 'he bet with Monsieur de Montejan that you would be at home this evening, my dear Count; and you see that he has won.' "'And you have won, too, Sancerre, I'll warrant,' said Monsieur de Langeais; 'for in fact the three bets were really but one, and we must win or lose together. Sancerre, Monsieur de Montgommery, bet one hundred pistoles with D'Aussun that Madame de Poitiers was ill this evening.' "Your father, Gabriel, turned fearfully pale. "'You have won, too, Monsieur de Sancerre,' said he, with a trembling voice; 'for Madame la Grande Sénéchale just now sent word to me that she could receive no one this evening on account of a sudden indisposition.' "'There,' cried Monsieur de Sancerre, 'just as I said! You will bear witness for me to D'Aussun, gentlemen, that he owes me a hundred pistoles.' "Then they all fell to laughing like madmen; but the Comte de Montgommery remained very grave. "'Now, my good friends,' said he, with an accent not free from bitterness, 'will you kindly explain this riddle for me?' "'With all my heart, upon my word!' said Monsieur de Boutières; 'but first send these good people away.' "We were already at the door, Perrot and I; but Monseigneur motioned for us to remain. "'These are devoted friends of mine,' he said to the young gentlemen; 'and as I have nothing to blush for, I have nothing to conceal.'