Part 57 (1/2)
”Very fortunate you _do_”
”Well, and ill happen next?”
”The next thing that will happen will be, that La Valliere, finding herself alone without you, will groan and utter such loud lah for two”
”In that case she will be put into _another_ room, don't you see?”
”Precisely so”
”Yes, but which?”
”Which?”
”Yes, that will puzzle you to say, Mr Inventor-General”
”Not at all; whenever and whatever the room may be, it will always be preferable to Madain your laht”
”I certainly will not fail to do so”
”And give La Valliere a hint also”
”Oh! don't fear her, she cries quite enough already to herself”
”Very well! all she has to do is cry out loudly”
And they separated
Chapter xxxIII Which Treats of Carpentry Operations, and Furnishes Details upon the Mode of Constructing Staircases
The advice which had been given to Montalais was coe that it was by norather from timidity than indifference to the project, resolved to put it into execution This story of the two girls weeping, and filling Madame's bedroom with the noisiest la is so probable as ihts story succeeded perfectly with Mada she did was to send Montalais away, and then, three days, or rather three nights afterwards, she had La Valliere reave the latter one of the small rooms on the top story, situated ientlemen of Monsieur's suite One story only, that is to say, aseparated the entlemen of her husband's household A private staircase, which was placed under Madame de Navailles's surveillance, was the only reater safety, Madame de Navailles, who had heard of his majesty's previous attes of the chimneys carefully barred There was, therefore, every possible security provided for Mademoiselle de la Valliere, whose roo else When Mademoiselle de la Valliere was in her own room, and she was there very frequently, for Madame scarcely ever had any occasion for her services, since she once knew she was safe under Madame de Navailles's inspection, Made herself than looking through the bars of her s It happened, therefore, that oneout as usual, she perceived Malicorne at one of the s exactly opposite to her own He held a carpenter's rule in his hand, was surveying the buildings, and seenized Malicorne and nodded to him; Malicorne, in his turn, replied by a formal bow, and disappeared from theShe was surprised at this ood-humor, but she remembered that he had lost his appointment on her account, and that he could hardly be very amiably disposed towards her, since, in all probability, she would never be in a position to make hiive offenses, and with still more readiness could she sympathize with misfortune La Valliere would have asked Montalais her opinion, if she had been within hearing, but she was absent, it being the hour she commonly devoted to her own correspondence Suddenly La Valliere observed so thrown fro, pass across the open space which separated the iron bars, and roll upon the floor She advanced with no little curiosity towards this object, and picked it up; it was a wooden reel for silk, only, in this instance, instead of silk, a piece of paper was rolled round it La Valliere unrolled it and read as follows:
”MADEMOISELLE,--I as: the first is, to know if the flooring of your apartment is wood or brick; the second, to ascertain at what distance your bed is placed froood enough to send me an answer by the same way you receive this letter--that is to say, byinto my room, as I have thrown it into yours, which will be too difficult for you to atteoodness merely to let it fall Believe me, mademoiselle, your most humble, most respectful servant,
”MALICORNE
”Write the reply, if you please, upon the letter itself”
”Ah! poor fellow,” exclaione out of his mind;” and she directed towards her correspondent--of wholimpse, in consequence of the darkness of the room--a look full of compassionate consideration Malicorne understood her, and shook his head, as if he meant to say, ”No, no, I am not out of my mind; be quite satisfied”