ThenextdayChamillardannouncedtoCavalierthatthekingdesiredtoseehim,andthathewastokeephimselfpreparedforasummonstocourt。Twodayslater,Cavalierreceivedaletterfromtheministertellinghimtobeatthepalaceatfouro\'clockintheafternoon,andhewouldplacehimonthegrandstaircase,upwhichthekingwouldpass。
Cavalierputonhishandsomestclothes,forthefirsttimeinhislifeperhapstakingtroublewithhistoilet。Hehadfinefeatures,towhichhisextremeyouth,hislongfairhair,andthegentleexpressionofhiseyeslentmuchcharm。Twoyearsofwarfarehadgivenhimamartialair;inshort,evenamongthemostelegant,hemightpassasabeaucavalier。
Atthreeo\'clockhereachedVersailles,andfoundChamillardwaitingforhim;allthecourtiersofeveryrankwereinastateofgreatexcitement,fortheyhadlearnedthatthegreatLouishadexpressedawishtomeetthelateCevenolchief,whosenamehadbeenpronouncedsoloudandsoofteninthemountainsofLanguedocthatitsechoeshadresoundedinthehallsofVersailles。Cavalierhadnotbeenmistakeninthinkingthateveryonewascurioustoseehim,onlyasnooneyetknewinwhatlightthekingregardedhim,thecourtiersdarednotaccosthimforfearofcompromisingtheirdignity;themannerofhisreceptionbyHisMajestywouldregulatethewarmthofhisreceptionbyeveryoneelse。
Metthusbylooksofcuriosityandaffectedsilence,theyoungcolonelfeltsomeembarrassment,andthisincreasedwhenChamillard,whohadaccompaniedhimtohisappointedplace,lefthimtorejointheking。However,inafewmomentshedidwhatembarrassedpeoplesooftendo,hidhisshynessunderanairofdisdain,and,leaningonthebalustrade,crossedhislegsandplayedwiththefeatherofhishat。
Whenhalfanhourhadpassedinthismanner,agreatcommotionwasheard:Cavalierturnedinthedirectionfromwhichitcame,andperceivedthekingjustenteringthevestibule。Itwasthefirsttimehehadseenhim,butherecognizedhimatonce。Cavalier\'skneesknockedtogetherandhisfaceflushed。