He formed the acquaintance of a young Catholic priest, a sheep-owner, and an officer, who had joined company on the road, and were traveling together. This chance association seemed to him to represent Navarre, learned, commercial, and military.
The officer recounted to him several sonnets which had been made on the loves of the king and the beautiful La Fosseuse, daughter of Rene de Montmorency, baron de Fosseux.
"Oh!" said Chicot; "in Paris, we believe that the king is mad about Mlle. de Rebours."
"Oh! that is at Pau."
"What! has the king a mistress in every town?"
"Very likely; I know that he was the lover of Mlle. de Dayelle, while I was in garrison at Castelnaudry."
"Oh! Mlle. Dayelle, a Greek, was she not?"
"Yes," said the priest; "a Cyprian."
"I am from Agen," said the merchant; "and I know that when the king was there he made love to Mlle. de Tignonville."
"Ventre de biche!" said Chicot; "he is a universal lover. But to return to Mlle. Dayelle; I knew her family."