The King laughed. "Ah! you failed to understand my attention, I think. I made a fool perform for your benefit, that you might perceive how little any woman besides yourself could possibly please me."
The Duchesse de Châteauroux shrugged her shoulders.
"Au revoir—in an hour."
"Au revoir."
With a bow and smile peculiarly his own, Louis moved away in the direction of the little salon, and madame turned about to find Claude de Mailly close at her side.
"Dear Claude! Where have you sprung from?" she asked, smilingly.
"I have been hoping all day that you might deign to speak to me. You have been very cold of late."
She looked down upon him, and the smile died from her lips. "It is you who have made me so. Surely you must have realized, cousin, that you have been near to wrecking your own position."
"My position is nothing to me, except when it enables me to be near to you."
"Then let me tell you, Claude, that were you not indiscreet you might see far more of me than you do now."