Page:Ten Years Later.djvu/224

212 not only the spring-time of seasons, it was the youth of an entire people, of which those at court were the head. The king was handsome, young, and of unequaled gallantry. All women were passionately loved by him, even the queen, his wife. This great king was, however, more timid and more reserved than any other person in the kingdom, to such a degree, indeed, that he had not confessed his sentiments even to himself. This timidity of bearing restrained him within the limits of ordinary politeness, and no woman could boast of having any preference shown her beyond that shown to others. It might be foretold that the day when his real character would be displayed would be the dawn of a new sovereignty; but as yet he had not declared himself. M. de Guiche took advantage of this, and constituted himself the sovereign prince of the whole amorous court. It had been reported that he was on the best of terms with Mile, de Montalais; that he had been assiduously attentive to Mile, de Chatillon; but now he was not even barely civil to any of the court beauties. He had eyes and ears but for one person alone. In this manner, and, as it were, without design, he devoted himself to Monsieur, who had a great regard for him, and kept him as much as possible in his own apartments. Unsociable from natural disposition, he estranged himself too much previous to the arrival of madame, but after her arrival he did not estrange himself sufficiently. This conduct, which every one had observed, had been particularly remarked by the evil genius of the house, the Chevalier de Lorraine, for whom Monsieur exhibited the warmest attachment, because he was of a very cheerful disposition, even in his remarks most full of malice, and because he was never at a loss how to make the time pass away. The Chevalier de Lorraine, therefore, having noticed that he was threatened with being supplanted by De Guiche, resorted to strong measures. He disappeared from the court, leaving Monsieur much embarrassed. The first day of his disappearance Monsieur hardly inquired about him, for he had De Guiche with him, and, except the time devoted to conversation with madame, his days and nights were rigorously devoted to the prince. On the second day, however. Monsieur, finding no one near him, inquired where the chevalier was. He was told that no one knew.

De Guiche, after having spent the morning in selecting embroideries and fringes with madame, went to console the prince. But after dinner, as there were tulips and