Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/378

 In a few moments she made her entree, and threw herself in silence at the king's feet. Agitated at once by fear, bashfulness, grief, and love, her heart beat so violently, that she could not have uttered a word. Her cheeks were suffused with the deepest blushes, and her eyes shone through tears, that ever and anon fell through her long eyelashes, on her snow-white bosom. It was obvious, that, from the first moment, the king was deeply struck with the wonderful beauty of this angelic girl. He raised her gently from the ground, and even made a movement as if he would kiss the hand which he still held; he let it go, however, but looked at her with an expression of embarrassment, that betrayed how deeply he was affected. The Marchioness de Main tenon now whispered to de Scuderi, "Is not her hair wonderfully like that of la Valiere? The king, too, seems to think so, and luxuriates in sweet though melancholy remembrances; your game is won!" Cautiously as de Maintenon pronounced these words, yet in the stillness of the whole party, the king had probably overheard them. He turned half round to the Marquise, and a transient flush of displeasure came over his features. He than read the short petition which Madelon had brought with her, and said mildly and good humoredly, "I believe, indeed, my dear child, that you are thoroughly convinced of your lover's innocence, but we must yet hear what the Chambre Ardente have to say on that head." A wave of his hand implied that the poor girl might withdraw; and, as she retired, it was remarked that she could not help bursting into a passionate flood of tears.

De Scuderi perceived, to her great dismay, that the recollection of la Valiere, beneficial as it might have been at first, yet, as soon as de Maintenon pronounced the name of that lady, seemed to have quite a contrary effect. It might be that Louis found himself by this means rather brusquement reminded, that he was about to sacrifice justice at the shrine of beauty, or he might feel like a dreamer, who, when suddenly awoke, sees the beautiful images that he had thought to grasp,