rantomeetherlikeachild，andgaveacryofjoy，whichmust
havebeenverypleasingtothemarechale。
“Youareadearwoman，“hesaidtoher，withanairwhichaccorded
withhiswords，“IalwaysfindyouwhenIwantyou；andyoucan
nowherebemoreinplacethanhere。
Iaskyourfriendshipforour
dearcountess。“
“Shehasitalready，sire，fromthemomentIsawher；andI
considermyintimacywithherasoneofthehappiestchances
ofmylife。“
Thekingshowedtheutmostgoodhumorintheworldduringthe
restoftheevening。
Hescoldedme，however，forthemysteryI
hadmadeinconcealingfromhimtheagreeablevisitofthe
marechale。
Ijustifiedmyselfeasilybythepleasurewhichthis
surprisecausedhim；and，onmyside，gavemysincerethanks
tothechancellor。
“Youowemenone，“saidhe；“thegoodmarechalefeltherself
somewhatillateasenottobeonclosetermswithherwho
possessestheaffectionsoftheking。
Itisanindispensable
necessitythatsheshouldplayapartinthelesserapartments；
andastheprincipalcharacternolongersuitsher，sheis
contentedtoperformthatofconfidante，andranhereonmy
firstintimation。“
“Nevermindthemotivethatbroughther，“Isaid；“sheisa
companionformemuchmoredesirablethanmadamedeBearn。“
“Firstfromherrank，“saidthechancellor，smilingmaliciously，
“andthenbyvirtueofhercousinshipwiththeHolyVirgin。“
IconfessthatIwasignorantofthisincidentinthehouseof
Levi；andIlaughedheartilyatthedescriptionofthepicture，
inwhichoneofthelordsofthishouseisrepresentedonhis
kneesbeforethemotherofGod，whosaystohim，“