I ask your friendship for our
dear countess."
"She has it already, sire, from the moment I saw her; and I
consider my intimacy with her as one of the happiest chances
of my life."
The king showed the utmost good humor in the world during the
rest of the evening. He scolded me, however, for the mystery I
had made in concealing from him the agreeable visit of the
marechale. I justified myself easily by the pleasure which this
surprise caused him; and, on my side, gave my sincere thanks
to the chancellor.
"You owe me none," said he; "the good marechale felt herself
somewhat ill at ease not to be on close terms with her who
possesses the affections of the king. It is an indispensable
necessity that she should play a part in the lesser apartments;
and as the principal character no longer suits her, she is
contented to perform that of confidante, and ran here on my
first intimation."
"Never mind the motive that brought her," I said; "she is a
companion for me much more desirable than madame de Bearn."
"First from her rank," said the chancellor, smiling maliciously,
"and then by virtue of her cousinship with the Holy Virgin."
I confess that I was ignorant of this incident in the house of
Levi; and I laughed heartily at the description of the picture,
in which one of the lords of this house is represented on his
knees before the mother of God, who says to him, "
to which he replies, "
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