“You will intercede, however, in M. de Guiche’s favor?”
“You are mad, monsieur,” said the princess, in a haughty tone of voice.
“On the contrary, I am in the most perfect possession of my senses; and I repeat, you will defend M. de Guiche before the king.”
“Why should I?”
“Because the cause of M. de Guiche is your own, Madame,” said Manicamp, with ardor kindling in his eyes.
“What do you mean by that?”
“I mean, Madame, that, with respect to the defense which Monsieur de Guiche undertook in M. de Bragelonne’s absence, I am surprised that your highness has not detected a pretext in La Valliere’s name having been brought forward.”
“A pretext? But a pretext for what?” repeated the princess, hesitatingly, for Manicamp’s steady look had just revealed something of the truth to her.
“I trust, Madame,” said the young man, “I have said sufficient to induce your highness not to overwhelm before his majesty my poor friend, De Guiche, against whom all the malevolence of a party bitterly opposed to your own will now be directed.”
“You mean, on the contrary, I suppose, that all those who have no great affection for Mademoiselle de la Valliere, and even, perhaps, a few of those who have some regard for her, will be angry with the comte?”