"Please to go and tell those ladies that a cavalier of the court wishes to pay his respects to them alone." The officer set off at a gallop.

"Mordioux!" said he, as he rode on, "here is a new and an honorable employment, I hope! I complained of being nobody.

I am the king's confidant: that is enough to make a musketeer burst with pride." He approached the carriage, and delivered his message gallantly and intelligently.

There were two ladies in the carriage: one of great beauty, although rather thin; the other less favored by nature, but lively, graceful, and uniting in the delicate lines of her brow all the signs of a strong will.

Her eyes, animated and piercing in particular, spoke more eloquently than all the amorous phrases in fashion in those days of gallantry.