"Why, that is impossible! You know that very well."
"How impossible?"
"We are on duty at his royal highness's."
"By Heavens, that is so; I always forget that we are ranked, and that from the gentlemen we once were we have had the honor to pass into valets."
Thereupon the two friends went and told the queen and the duchess the necessity of their being present at least when Monsieur le Duc retired.
"Very well," said Madame de Nevers, "we will go by ourselves."
"Might we know where you are going?" asked Coconnas.
"Oh! you are too curious!" said the duchess. "Quære et invenies."
The young men bowed and went at once to Monsieur d'Alençon.
The duke seemed to be waiting for them in his cabinet.