Page:Ten Years Later.djvu/48

Rh 38 TEN YEARS LATER. "Monsieur Maiicorne/' said De Guiohe to his friend. De Wardes bowed. "Monsieur de Wardes," said De Guiclie to Malicorne, who bowed in return. "By the b3'e, De Wardes," continued De Guiche, "you who are so well acquainted with these mat- ters, can you tell us, probably, what appointments are still vacant at the court; or, rather, in the prince's household?" "In the prince's household," said De Wardes, looking up with an air of consideration, "let me see — the appointment of the master of the horse is vacant, I believe." "Oh," said Malicorne, "there is no question of such a post as that, monsieur; my ambition is not nearly so ex- alted." De Wardes had a more penetrating observation than De Guiche, and understood Malicorne immediately. "The fact is," he said, looking at him from head to foot, "a man must be either a duke or a peer to fill that post." "All I solicit," said Malicorne, "is a very humble ap- pointment; I am of little importance, and I do not rank myself above my position." "Monsieur Malicorne, whom you see here," said De Guiche to De Wardes, "is a very excellent fellow, whose' only misfortune is that of not being of gentle birth. As far as I am concerned, you know, I attach little value to those who have gentle birth alone to boast of." "Assuredly," said De Wardes; "but will you allow me to remark, my dear comte, that, without rank of some sort, one can hardly hope to belong to his royal highness' house- hold?" "You are right," said the comte; "the etiquette is very strict with regard to such matters. The deuce! we never thought of that." "Alas I a sad misfortune for me. Monsieur le Comte," said Malicorne, changing color slightly. "Yet not Avithout remedy, I hope," returned De Guiche. "The remedy is found easily enough," exclaimed De Wardes; "you can be created a gentleman. His eminence the Cardinal Mazarin did nothing else from morning till night." "Hush, hush, De Wardes!" said the comte; "no jests of that kind; it ill becomes us to turn such matters into ridi- cule. Letters of nobility, it is true, are purchasable; but that is a sufficient misfortune without the nobles themselves laughing at it." "Upon my word, De Guiche, you're quite a Puritan, as the English say."