"Ah; honest age is always worthy of respect. But is yours honest, Monsieur? Have you not aged yourself?"
The marquis grew thoughtful at the conflict in view. "Monsieur, when I asked you to marry Mademoiselle de Montbazon, I forgot to say that she was not my daughter, but legally and legitimately the daughter of her father, the Duc de Montbazon."
This curious turn threw the Chevalier into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. The marquis waited patiently.
"I had no such thought. But your suggestion, had it occurred, might naturally have appealed to me. The supposition would not have been unreasonable."
"The lad is a wit!" cried the marquis, in mock admiration.
The Chevalier bowed. "Monsieur, if my presence at your hôtel is not agreeable to you, I will leave at once. It is a small matter where I spend the night, as I return to court to-morrow."
"Ah! And what brought about this good fortune which has returned you to her Majesty's graces?" The marquis never mentioned Mazarin.
"The cause would scarcely interest you, Monsieur," coldly. The roisterers were becoming hilarious once more, and the Chevalier grew restive.
"No, nothing interests me; but one grows weary of wine-bibbers and roisterers, of spendthrifts and sponges."
"Monsieur is old and can not appreciate the natural exuberance of youth."