Monsieur made a sign to madame, who struck a bell which was placed at her right hand. M. de St. Remy entered, and the room was soon rilled with people.
"Messieurs," said the prince, "his majesty is about to pay me the honor of passing a day at Blois; I depend upon the king, my nephew, not having to repent of the favor he does my house."
"Vive le Roi!" cried all the officers of the household with frantic enthusiasm, and M. de St. Remy louder than the rest.
Gaston hung down his head with evident chagrin. He had all his life been obliged to hear, or rather to undergo, this cry of Vive le Roi!" which passed over him. For along time, being unaccustomed to hear it, his ear had had rest, and now a younger, more vivacious, and more brilliant royalty rose up before him, like a new and a more painful provocation.
Madame perfectly understood the sufferings of that timid, gloomy heart; she rose from the table; Monsieur imitated her mechanically, and all the domestics, with a buzzing like that of several beehives, surrounded Raoul for the purpose of questioning him.
Madame saw this movement, and called M. de St. Remy.
"This is not the time for gossiping, but working," said she, with the tone of an angry housekeeper.
M. de St. Remy hastened to break the circle formed by the officers round Raoul, so that the latter was able to gain the antechamber.
"Care will be taken of that gentleman, I hope," added madame, addressing M. de St. Remy.
The worthy man immediately hastened after Raoul. "Madame desires refreshment to be offered you," said he; "and there is, besides, a lodging for you in the castle."
"Thanks, Monsieur de St. Remy," replied Raoul; "but you know how anxious I must be to pay my duty to Monsieur le Comte, my father."
"That is' true, that is true, Monsieur Raoul; "present him, at the same time, my humble respects, if you please."
Raoul thus once more got rid of the old gentleman, and pursued his way. As he was passing under the porch, leading his horse by the bridle, a soft voice called him from the depths of an obscure path.
"Monsieur Raoul!" said the voice.
The young man turned round surprised, and saw a dark-complexioned girl, who, with a finger on her lip, held out
