His sister, Madame de Montespan, will await him there, and he is charged by me to drive her to the Chateau of Petit Bourg.

You will tell him that he is answerable to me for her arrival there." "Yes, sire." De Catinat raised his sword in salute, and started upon his mission.
The king passed on down the corridor, and opened a door which led him into a magnificent ante-room, all one blaze of mirrors and gold, furnished to a marvel with the most delicate ebony and silver suite, on a deep red carpet of Aleppo, as soft and yielding as the moss of a forest.

In keeping with the furniture was the sole occupant of this stately chamber--a little negro boy in a livery of velvet picked out with silver tinsel, who stood as motionless as a small swart statuette against the door which faced that through which the king entered.
"Is your mistress there ?" "She has just returned, sire." "I wish to see her." "Pardon, sire, but she--" "Is everyone to thwart me to-day ?" snarled the king, and taking the little page by his velvet collar, he hurled him to the other side of the room.

Then, without knocking, he opened the door, and passed on into the lady's boudoir.
It was a large and lofty room, very different to that from which he had just come.

Three long windows from ceiling to floor took up one side, and through the delicate pink-tinted blinds the evening sun cast a subdued and dainty light.