Page:Ten Years Later.djvu/283

Rh The king was obliged to admit that madame was an angel for sense, and the very reverse for cleverness. He bowed, and said:

"Agreed, madame; I will think over my plan of attack. Great military men — my cousin De Condé, for instance — grow pale in meditation upon their strategical plans before they move one of the pawns, which people call armies; I therefore wish to draw up a complete plan of attack, for you know that the tender passion is subdivided in a variety of ways. Well, then, I shall stop at the village of Little Attentions, at the hamlet of Love Letters, before I follow the road of Visible Affection; the way is clear enough, you know, and poor Madame de Scudéry would never forgive me for passing through a halting-place without stopping."

"Ah! now we have returned to our proper senses, shall we say adieu, sire?"

"Alas! it must be so, for, see, we are interrupted."

"Yes, indeed," said Mme. Henrietta; "they are bringing Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente and her sphinx butterfly in grand procession this way."

"It is perfectly well understood, then, that this evening, during the promenade, I am to make my escape into the forest, and find La Valliere without you."

"I will take care to send her away."

"Very well; I will speak to her when she is with her companions, and I will then discharge my first arrow at her."

"Be skillful," said madame, laughing, "and do not miss the heart."

And the princess took leave of the king, and went forward to meet the merry troop, which was advancing with much ceremony, and a great many pretended flourishes of trumpets, which they imitated with their mouths.

At the conclusion of the banquet, which had been served at five o'clock, the king entered his cabinet, where his tailors were awaiting him, for the purpose of trying on the celebrated costume representing Spring, which was the result of so much imagination, and had cost so many efforts