This time he must speak; the chevalier had had time to regain a little courage:
“Alas! madame,” said he, sadly, “you confer a great favor on me, but, unfortunately, I can not profit by it.”
“Why not?”
“I have not the honor to belong to his Majesty.”
“How, then, did you come here?”
“By chance; I met on my way a page who had been thrown and who begged me—”
“How ‘thrown’?” repeated the marquise, bursting out laughing. She seemed so happy at this moment that gaiety came to her without an effort.
“Yes, madame, he fell from his horse at the gate. I luckily found myself there to help him to rise, and, as his dress was very much disordered, he begged me to take charge of his message.”
“And by what chance did you find yourself there?”
“Madame, it was because I had a petition to present to his Majesty.”