The Marquis knew that she had already failed to obtain even an audience of M. de Witt, though she had come to the Hague with the object of persuading him to the concessions required by M. de Louvois with regard to the herring fisheries; her question was, therefore, pertinent enough.
“I am thinking of the Prince.”
Madame Lavalette showed some impatience.
“I am tired of the whole country, its psalm-singing burghers and its frogs—I wish to get away.”
“Madame, the ball is on Friday, it would not detain you—and the Prince is different from these others.”
“He does not interest me.”
“Have you seen him?”
She shook her fair head—
“He is kept too close.”