Page:Ten Years Later.djvu/311

Rh confided the great affection with which she had inspired him.

"St. Aignan," continued the king, "watch over Mademoiselle de la Valliere, I beg. Send for a surgeon. I will hasten forward and inform madame of the accident which has befallen one of her maids of honor." And, in fact, while M. de St. Aignan was busily engaged in making preparations for carrying Mlle. de la Valliere to the château, the king hurried forward, happy to have an opportunity of approaching madame, and of speaking to her under some colorable pretext. Fortunately, a carriage was passing; the coachman was told to stop, and the persons who were inside, having been informed of the accident, eagerly gave up their seats to Mlle. de la Valliere. The current of fresh air produced by the rapid motion of the carriage soon recalled her to her senses. Having reached the chateau, she was able, though very weak, to alight from the carriage, and, with the assistance of Athenais and of Montalais, to reach the inner apartments. They made her sit down in one of the rooms of the ground-floor. After awhile, as the accident had not produced much effect upon those who had been walking, the promenade was resumed. During this time, the king had found madame beneath a tree with overhanging branches, and had seated himself by her side.

"Take care, sire," said Henrietta to him, in a low tone, "you do not show yourself as indifferent as you should be."

"Alas!" replied the king, in the same tone, "I much fear we have entered into an agreement above our strength to keep." He then added, aloud: "You have heard of the accident, I suppose?"

"What accident?"

"Oh! in seeing you, I forgot that I had come expressly to tell you of it. I am, however, painfully affected by it; one of your maids of honor, Mademoiselle de la Valliere, has just fainted."

"Indeed! poor girl," said the princess quietly; "what was the cause of it?"

She then added, in an undertone, "You forget, sire, that you wish others to believe in your passion for this girl, and yet you remain here while she is almost dying, perhaps, elsewhere."

"Ah! madame," said the king, sighing, "how much more perfect you are in your part than I am, and how well you think of everything."

He then rose, saying loud enough for every one to hear