Page:Ten Years Later.djvu/509

Rh TEN YEAES LATEK. 497 "Oh, sire," said La Valliere, "your majesty will not absolutely believe my modesty?" "I believe you possess every virtue, mademoiselle; frank- ness as well as every other; I entreat you, therefore, to say frankly what you think of these bracelets." "They are beautiful, sire, and cannot be offered to any other than a queen." "I am delighted that such is your opinion, mademoiselle; the bracelets are yours, and the king begs your acceptance of them." And as, with a movement almost resembling terror, La Valliere eagerly held out the casket to the king, the king gently pushed back La Valliere's trembling hand. A silence of astonishment, more profound than that of death, reigned in the assembly. And yet, from the side where the queens were, no one had heard what he had said nor under- stood what he had done. A charitable friend, however, took upon herself to spread the news; it was Tonnay- Charente, to whom madame had made a sign to approach. "Good heavens!" exclaimed Tonnay-Charente, "how happy that La Valliere is! the king has just given her the bracelets." Madame bit her lips to such a degree that the blood ap- peared upon the surface of the skin. The young queen looked first at La Valliere and then at madame, and began to laugh. Anne of Austria rested her chin upon her beau- tiful white hand, and remained for a long time absorbed by a suspicion which disturbed her mind, and by a terrible pang which stung her heart. De Gruiche, observing ma- dame turn pale, and guessing the cause of her change of color, abruptly quitted the assembly and disappeared. Malicornewas then able to approach Montalais very quietly, and under cover of the general din of conversation, said to her: "Aure, you have our fortune and our future close beside you." "Yes," was her reply, as she tenderly embraced La Val- liere, whom, inwardly, she was tempted to strangle. THE END.