"All well and good, then," said Montalais, "for, in that case, you would be very foolish."
"You will serve me, then?"
"Devotedly so, if you will serve me in return."
"One would almost say that you do not know my heart," said La Valliere, looking at Montalais with her eyes wide open.
"Why, the fact is, that since we have belonged to the court, my dear Louise, we are very much changed."
"In what way?"
"It is very simple. Were you the second queen of France yonder, at Blois?"
La Valliere hung down her head, and began to weep. Montalais looked at her in an indefinable manner, and murmured, "Poor girl!" and then adding, "Poor king!" she kissed Louise on the forehead, and returned to her apartment, where Malicorne was waiting for her.