prepared, or wishing to be particularly polite to him, Monsieur le Prince sent me forward to have the lodgings ready."
"You have seen Monsieur?" asked the comte eagerly.
"I have had that honor."
"At the castle?"
"Yes, monsieur," replied Raoul, casting down his eyes, because, no doubt, he had felt there was something more than curiosity in the comte's inquiries.
"Ah, indeed, vicomte? Accept my compliments thereupon."
Raoul bowed.
"But you have seen some one else at Blois?"
"Monsieur, I saw her royal highness, madame."
"That's very well; but it is not madame that I mean."
Raoul colored deeply, but made no reply.
"You do not appear to understand me, Monsieur le Vicomte," persisted M. de la Fere, without accenting his words more strongly, but with a rather severer look.
"I understand you quite plainly, monsieur," replied Raoul, "and if I hesitated a little in my reply, you are well assured I am not seeking for a falsehood."
"No, you cannot lie; and that makes me so astonished you should be so long in saying yes or no."
"I cannot answer you without understanding you well; and if I have understood you, you will take my first words in ill part. You will be displeased, no doubt, Monsieur le Comte, because I have seen"
"Mademoiselle de la Valliere—have you not?"
"It was of her you meant to speak, I know very well, monsieur," said Raoul, with inexpressible sweetness.
"And I ask you if you have seen her."
"Monsieur, I was ignorant, when I entered the castle, that Mademoiselle de la Valliere was there; it was only on my return, after I had performed my mission, that chance brought us together. I have had the honor of paying my respects to her."
"But what do you call the chance that led you into the presence of Mademoiselle de la Valliere?"
"Mademoiselle de Montalais, monsieur."
"And who is Mademoiselle de Montalais?"
"A young lady I did not know before, whom I had never seen. She is maid of honor to madame."
"Monsieur le Vicomte, I will push my interrogatory no further, and reproach myself with having carried it so far. I had desired you to avoid Mademoiselle de la Valliere, and
