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490 Floride played her part very well with the Queen; she consoled her as much as she could, and gave her some few flattering hopes, which she needed to support her. "Fortuné thinks himself so beneath you, Madam," said she, "that he did not perhaps understand what you meant; and it appears to me that he has already said much in assuring you that he loves no one." It is so natural for us to flatter ourselves, that the Queen at length took heart a little. She was ignorant that the malicious Floride, aware of the Chevalier's indifference for her, wished to induce him to speak still more explicitly, that he might offend her by his cool answers.

He was, on his part, in the greatest perplexity. His situation appeared cruel to him; he would not have hesitated to leave the court, if his love for the King had not detained him in spite of himself. He never went near the Queen but when she held her court, and then always in the King's suite: she perceived this alteration in his conduct instantly; she several times gave him the opportunity of paying attentions to her, without his profiting by it; but one day, as she descended into her gardens, she saw him cross one of the grand avenues, and suddenly enter the little wood. She called to him; he feared to displease her in pretending not to hear her, and approached her respectfully.

"Do you remember, Chevalier," said she, "the conversation we had together some time ago in the green arbour?" "I am not capable, Madam," answered he, "of forgetting that honour." "No doubt the questions I put to you then," said the Queen, "were distressing; for since that day you have not placed yourself in a situation for me to ask you any more." "As chance alone procured me that favour," said he, "I thought it would be presuming to seek any other." "Rather say, ungrateful man," continued she, blushing, "that you have avoided my presence; you know too well my sentiments." Fortuné cast down his eyes in an embarrassed and modest manner, and as he hesitated to reply to her, she continued—"You seem very much disconcerted—go, do not endeavour to answer me; I understand you better than though I heard you speak." She would perhaps have said more, but she perceived the King coming that way. She advanced towards him, and seeing him look very melancholy, she begged him to tell her the reason. "You know," said the King, "that about