Chapter 39

Chapter XXXIX:
Saint-Aignan Follows Malicorne's Advice.

The king most assiduously followed the progress which was made in La
Valliere's portrait; and did so with a care and attention arising as much
from a desire that it should resemble her as from the wish that the
painter should prolong the period of its completion as much as possible.
It was amusing to observe him follow the artist's brush, awaiting the
completion of a particular plan, or the result of a combination of
colors, and suggesting various modifications to the painter, which the
latter consented to adopt with the most respectful docility. And again,
when the artist, following Malicorne's advice, was a little late in
arriving, and when Saint-Aignan had been obliged to be absent for some
time, it was interesting to observe, though no one witnessed them, those
moments of silence full of deep expression, which united in one sigh two
souls most disposed to understand each other, and who by no means
objected to the quiet meditation they enjoyed together. The minutes flew
rapidly by, as if on wings, and as the king drew closer to Louise and
bent his burning gaze upon her, a noise was suddenly heard in the ante-
room. It was the artist, who had just arrived; Saint-Aignan, too, had
returned, full of apologies; and the king began to talk and La Valliere
to answer him very hurriedly, their eyes revealing to Saint-Aignan that
they had enjoyed a century of happiness during his absence. In a word,
Malicorne, philosopher that he was, though he knew it not, had learned
how to inspire the king with an appetite in the midst of plenty, and with
desire in the assurance of possession. La Valliere's fears of
interruption had never been realized, and no one imagined she was absent
from her apartment two or three hours every day; she pretended that her
health was very uncertain; those who went to her room always knocked
before entering, and Malicorne, the man of so many ingenious inventions,
had constructed an acoustic piece of mechanism, by means of which La
Valliere, when in Saint-Aignan's apartment, was always forewarned of any
visits which were paid to the room she usually inhabited. In this
manner, therefore, without leaving her room, and having no _confidante_,
she was able to return to her apartment, thus removing by her appearance,
a little tardy perhaps, the suspicions of the most determined skeptics.
Malicorne having asked Saint-Aignan the next morning what news he had to
report, the latter was obliged to confess that the quarter of an hour's
liberty had made the king in most excellent humor. "We must double the
dose," replied Malicorne, "but by insensible degrees; wait until they
seem to wish it."

They were so desirous for it, however, that on the