Part 40 (1/2)
”Well?”
”It see? and what has the king to do with it?” exclaiht to interfere in matters of that kind? Politics are politics, as M de Mazarin used to say; but love is love If, therefore, you love M de Bragelonne, h
”Oh! I a seriously,” replied Montalais, ”and 's, I suppose; is it not, Louise?”
”Coentle alone to cross the open ground and so take refuge in the woods”
”So much the better,” said Athenais, ”because I see the torches setting out from the chateau and the theater, and they see some person of distinction”
”Let us run, then,” said all three And, gracefully lifting up the long skirts of their silk dresses, they lightly ran across the open space between the lake and the thickest covert of the park Montalais agile as a deer, Athenais eager as a young wolf, bounded through the dry grass, and, now and then, soht, have perceived their straight and well-formed limbs somewhat displayed beneath the heavy folds of their satin petticoats La Valliere, more refined and more bashful, allowed her dress to flow around her; retarded also by the la before she called out to her coed them both to wait for her At thissaplings, scra side, and ran off in the direction of the chateau The three young girls, on their side, reached the outskirts of the park, every path of which they well knew The ditches were bordered by high hedges full of flowers, which on that side protected the foot-passengers froes In fact, the sound of Madaes could be heard in the distance upon the hard dry ground of the roads, followed by the mounted cavaliers Distant music reached theale, with throat of pride, poured forth his melodious chants, and his most complicated, learned, and sweetest compositions to those who had ster, in the dark background of the large trees, could be seen the glistening eyes of an owl, attracted by the harmony In this way the fete of the whole court was a fete also for the mysterious inhabitants of the forest; for certainly the deer in the brake, the pheasant on the branch, the fox in its hole, were all listening One could realize the life led by this nocturnal and invisible population fro the leaves Our sylvan nyht cry, but, reassured ihed, and resumed their walk In this manner they reached the royal oak, the venerable relic of a tree which in its prihs of Henry II for the beautiful Diana of Poitiers, and later still to those of Henry IV for the lovely Gabrielle d'Estrees Beneath this oak the gardeners had piled up the moss and turf in such a manner that never had a seat more luxuriously rested the wearied liainst, was sufficiently large to acco the branches, which stretched upwards to the sky
Chapter XLI What Was Said under the Royal Oak
The softness of the air, the stillness of the foliage, tacitly ie iiddy conversation for one of a more serious character She, indeed, whose disposition was the most lively,-Montalais, for instance,-was the first to yield to the influence; and she began by heaving a deep sigh, and saying:-”What happiness to be here alone, and at liberty, with every right to be frank, especially towards one another”
”Yes,” said Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente; ”for the court, however brilliant it may be, has always some falsehood concealed beneath the folds of its velvet robes, or the glitter of its diamonds”
”I,” replied La Valliere, ”I never tell a falsehood; when I cannot speak the truth, I re remain in favor,” said Montalais; ”it is not here as it was at Blois, where we told the dowager Madas There were certain days when Mada, and, on those days, whoever talked with her found in her a sincere friend She related to us her flirtations with Monsieur, and we told her of the flirtations she had had with others, or, at least, the rumors of them that had spread abroad Poor wohed at thehter-loving Montalais!” cried La Valliere; ”you see you are sighing again; the woods inspire you, and you are alht not, either of you,” said Athenais, ”to regret the court at Blois so much, unless you do not feel happy with us A court is a place where uardians, and especially confessors, severely denounce”
”Oh, Athenais!” said Louise, blushi+ng
”Athenais is frank to-night,” said Montalais; ”let us avail ourselves of it”
”Yes, let us take advantage of it, for this evening I could divulge the softest secrets of my heart”
”Ah, if M Montespan were here!” said Montalais
”Do you think that I care for M de Montespan?” irl
”He is handsoe in o further, and say, that of all the men whom one sees here, he is the handsomest, and thesuddenly fro by, perhaps”
”I am only afraid of men,” said Athenais
”When they do not resemble M de Montespan”
”A truce to raillery M de Montespan is attentive to me, but that does not commit me in any way Is not M de Guiche here, he who is so devoted to Madame?”
”Poor fellow!” said La Valliere
”Why to be pitied? Madah rank, I suppose”
La Valliere shook her head sorrowfully, saying, ”When one loves, it is neither beauty nor rank;-when one loves it should be the heart, or the eyes only, of hih loudly ”Heart, eyes,” she said; ”oh, sugar-plums!”
”I speak for myself;” replied La Valliere
”noble sentiments,” said Athenais, with an air of protection, but with indifference
”Are they not your own?” asked Louise
”Perfectly so; but to continue: how can one pity a man who bestows his attentions upon such a woman as Madame? If any disproportion exists, it is on the count's side”
”Oh! no, no,” returned La Valliere; ”it is on Madame's side”
”Explain yourself”
”I will Madame has not even a wish to knohat love is She diverts herself with the feeling, as children do with fireworks, forht set a palace on fire It makes a display, and that is all she cares about Besides, pleasure forms the tissue of which she wishes her life to be woven M de Guiche loves this illustrious personage, but she will never love hihed disdainfully ”Do people really ever love?” she said ”Where are the noble sentiments you just now uttered? Does not a wo refusal of every intrigue that ulated woht to look at men, make herself loved-adored, even, by thein to think that I ought not to have been what I am,-I should have detested this one less than others'”
”Therefore,” exclaimed La Valliere, ”that is what M de Montespan has to expect”
”Certainly; he, as well as every one else What! have I not said that I admit he possesses a certain superiority, and would not that be enough? My dear child, a wo the entire period nature pern power-froe After that, we are free to have a heart, e only have that left-”
”Oh, oh!” murmured La Valliere
”Excellent,” cried Montalais; ”a very masterly woman; Athenais, you will make your way in the world”
”Do you not approve of what I say?”
”Co companion
”You are not serious, Montalais?” said Louise
”Yes, yes; I approve everything Athenais has just said; only-”
”Only what?”