Chapter 3 - Page 2

a maid of honor, of madame's at least."

"Have you given in your resignation, mademoiselle? That is well! I
cannot but applaud such a determination, and I do applaud it."

"I do not give in my resignation, madame; I take another service, - that
is all."

"In the _bourgeoisie_ or in the _robe?_" asked Madame de Saint-Remy,
disdainfully.

"Please to learn, madame, that I am not a girl to serve either
_bourgeoises_ or _robines_; and that instead of the miserable court at
which you vegetate, I am going to reside in a court almost royal."

"Ha, ha! a royal court," said Madame de Saint-Remy, forcing a laugh; "a
royal court! What do you think of that, my daughter?"

And she turned towards Mademoiselle de la Valliere, whom she would by
main force have dragged away from Montalais, and who instead of obeying
the impulse of Madame de Saint-Remy, looked first at her mother and then
at Montalais with her beautiful conciliatory eyes.

"I did not say a royal court, madame," replied Montalais; "because Madame
Henrietta of England, who is about to become the wife of S. A. R.
Monsieur, is not a queen. I said almost royal, and I spoke correctly,
since she will be sister-in-law to the king."

A thunderbolt falling upon the castle of Blois would not have astonished
Madame de Saint-Remy more than the last sentence of Montalais.

"What do you say? of Son Altesse Royale Madame Henrietta?" stammered out
the old lady.

"I say I am going to belong to her household, as maid of honor; that is
what I say."

"As maid of honor!" cried, at the same time, Madame de Saint-Remy with
despair, and Mademoiselle de la Valliere with delight.

"Yes, madame, as maid of honor."

The old lady's head sank down as if the blow had been too severe for
her. But, almost immediately recovering herself, she launched a last
projectile at her adversary.

"Oh! oh!" said she; "I have heard of many of these sorts of promises
beforehand, which often lead people to flatter themselves with wild
hopes, and at the last moment, when the time comes to keep the promises,
and have the hopes realized, they are surprised to see the great credit
upon which they reckoned vanish like smoke."

"Oh! madame, the credit of my protector is incontestable and his promises
are as good as deeds."

"And would it be indiscreet to ask you the name of this powerful
protector?"

"Oh! _mon Dieu!_ no! it is that gentleman there," said Montalais,
pointing to Malicorne, who, during this scene, had preserved the most
imperturbable coolness, and the most comic dignity.

"Monsieur!" cried Madame de Saint-Remy, with an explosion of hilarity,
"monsieur is your protector! Is the man whose credit is so