"'And you have won, too, Sancerre, I'll warrant,' said Monsieur de Langeais; 'for in fact the three bets were really but one, and we must win or lose together. Sancerre, Monsieur de Montgommery, bet one hundred pistoles with D'Aussun that Madame de Poitiers was ill this evening.'
"Your father, Gabriel, turned fearfully pale.
"'You have won, too, Monsieur de Sancerre,' said he, with a trembling voice; 'for Madame la Grande Sénéchale just now sent word to me that she could receive no one this evening on account of a sudden indisposition.'
"'There,' cried Monsieur de Sancerre, 'just as I said! You will bear witness for me to D'Aussun, gentlemen, that he owes me a hundred pistoles.'
"Then they all fell to laughing like madmen; but the Comte de Montgommery remained very grave.
"'Now, my good friends,' said he, with an accent not free from bitterness, 'will you kindly explain this riddle for me?'
"'With all my heart, upon my word!' said Monsieur de Boutières; 'but first send these good people away.'
"We were already at the door, Perrot and I; but Monseigneur motioned for us to remain.
"'These are devoted friends of mine,' he said to the young gentlemen; 'and as I have nothing to blush for, I have nothing to conceal.'
"'As you choose!' said Monsieur de Langeais; 'it seems rather provincial, but the matter concerns you more than us, Count. And I am sure, too, that they must know the great secret, for it has made the circuit of the whole town; and you will be the last one to hear it, as is generally the case.'