Page:Louise de la Valliere text.djvu/214

Rh 304 LOUISE DE. LA YALLIERE. Malicorne took up the ladder, like a feather, and placed it upright against the walL And, in order to try the ex- periment, he chose, or chance, perhaps, directed him to choose, the very window of the cabinet where La Valliere was. The ladder just reached the edge of the cornice, that is to say, the sill of the window; so that, by standing upon the last round but one of the latter, a man of about the middle height, as the king was, for instance, could easily hold a communication with those who might be in the room. Hardly had the ladder been properly placed than the king, dropping the assumed part he had been playing in the comedy, began to ascend the rounds of the ladder, which Malicorne held at the bottom. But hardly had he com- pleted half the distance when a patrol of Swiss Guards ap- peared in the garden, and advanced straight toward them. The king descended with the utmost precipitation, and concealed himself among the trees. Malicorne at once per- ceived that he must offer himself as a sacrifice; for, if he, too, were to conceal himself, the guard would search every- where until they had found either himself or the king, per- haps both. It would be far better, therefore, that he alone should be discovered. And, consequently, Malicorne hid himself so clumsily that he was the only one arrested. As soon as he was arrested Malicorne was taken to the guard- house; and there he declared who he was, and was imme- diately recognized. In the meantime, by concealing him- self first behind one clump of trees and then behind an- other, the king reached the side door of his apartments, very much humiliated, and still more disappointed. More than that, the noise made in arresting Malicorne had drawn La Valliere and Montalais to their window; and even ma- dame herself had appeared at her own, with a pair of wax- candles, asking what was the matter. In the meantime, Malicorne sent for D'Artagnan, who did not lose a moment in hurrying to him. But it was in vain he attempted to make him understand his reasons, and in vain also that D'Artagnan did understand them; and, further, it was equally in vain that both their sharp and in- ventive minds endeavored to give another turn to the adven- ture; there was no other resource left for Malicorne but to let it be supposed that he had wished to enter Mile, de Montalais' apartment, as St. Aignan had passed for having wished to force Mile, de Tonnay-Oharente's door. Madame ■was inflexible; in the first place, because if Malicorne had, in fact, wished to enter her apartment at night, through