14 THE VICOMTE DE BRAOELONNE.

who had more than once consulted the looks of her husband during the reading of the letter. "The king here!" ex- claimed she, in a rather louder tone than would have been necessary to preserve secrecy. "Monsieur," said his royal highness in his turn, "you will offer my thanks to Monsieur le Conde, and express to him my gratitude for the pleasure he has done me." Kaoui bowed. "On what day will his majesty arrive?" continued the prince. I "The king, monseigneur, will in all probability arrive this evening." "But how, then, could he have known my reply if it had been in the negative?" "I was desired, monseigneur, to return in all haste co Beaugency, to give counter-orders to the courier, who was himself to go back immediately with counter-orders to Monsieur le Prince." "His majesty is at Orleans, then?" "Much nearer, monseigneur; his majesty must by this time have arrived at Meung." "Does the court accompany him?" "Yes, monseigneur." "Apropos, I forgot to ask you after Monsieur le Cardinal." "His eminence appears to enjoy good health, mon- seigneur." "His nieces accompany him, no doubt?" "No, monseigneur; his eminence has ordered the Mesde- moiselles de Mancini to set out for Brouage. They will follow the left bank of the Loire, while the court will come by the right." "What! Mademoiselle Mary de Mancini quit the court in that manner?" asked Monsieur, his reserve beginning to diminish. "Mademoiselle Mary de Mancini in particular," replied Eaoul discreetly. A fugitive smile, an imperceptible vestige of his ancient spirit of intrigue, shot across the pale face of the prince. "Thanks, Monsieur de Bragelonne," then said Monsieur. "You would, perhaps, not be willing to render Monsieur le Prince the commission with which I would charge you, and that is, that his messenger has been very agreeable to me; but I will tell him so myself." Kaoul bowed his thanks to Monsieur for the honor he had done him.