"What, sire! Already ?" "Now, Louvois; within five minutes." "Very good, sire." The unhappy courtier strove hard to assume a more festive manner; but the night had been full of vexation to him, and to be condemned to assist in making this woman the king's wife was the most bitter drop of all.
"Put these letters away, Louvois.

The last one has made up for all the rest.

But these rascals shall smart for it, all the same.

By-the-way, there is that young nephew to whom madame wrote.

Gerard d'Aubigny is his name, is it not ?" "Yes, sire." "Make him out a colonel's commission, and give him the next vacancy, Louvois." "A colonel, sire! Why, he is not yet twenty." "Ay, Louvois.