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302 LOUISE DE LA VALLIERE. adored duchess of former days might have answered me ungratefully, 'I do not wish for anything from you.* Heaven be praised ! The misfortunes you speak of have indeed worked a change in you, for you will now, perhaps, answer me, 'I accept.' " The duchess' look and smile soon changed at this conclu- sion, and she no longer attempted to act a false part. "Speak, dearest, what do you want?" "I must first explain to you." "Do so unhesitatingly." "Well, then, your majesty can confer the greatest, the most ineffable pleasure upon me." "What is it?" said the queen, a little distant in her man- ner, from an uneasiness of feeling produced by this remark. "But do not forget, my good Chevreuse, that I am quite as much under my son's influence as I was formerly under my husband's." "I will not be too hard, madame." "Call me as you used to do; it will be a sweet echo of our happy youth." "Well, then, my dear mistress, my darling Anne " "Do you know Spanish still?" "Yes." "Ask me in Spanish, then." "Will your majesty do me the honor to pass a few days with me at Dampierre?" "Is that all?" said the queen, stupefied. "Nothing more than that?" "Good heavens! can you possibly imagine that in asking you that, I am not asking you the greatest conceivable favor? If that really be the case, you do not know me. Will you accept?" "Yes, gladly. And I shall be happy," continued the queen, with some suspicion, "if my presence can in any way be useful to you." "Useful!" exclaimed the duchess, laughing; "oh. no, no — agreeable, delightful, if you like; and you promise me, then?" "I swear it," said the queen, whereupon the duchess seized her beautiful hand, and covered it with kisses. The queen could not help murmuring to herself, "She is a good-hearted woman, and very generous, too." "Will your majesty consent to wait a fortnight before you come?" "Certainly; but why?"