She was growing fat, and the three long curls on each side of her face in no wise diminished its width; but her throat was still firm and white, and her hands, saving their plumpness, were yet the envy of many a beautiful woman.
Anne of Austria was now devoted to three things; her prayers, her hands, and her plays.
As for the other two, Madame de Motteville looked hungry and politely bored, while the old marechal scowled at his cards.
Near-by, on a pile of cushions, sat Philippe d'Orleans, the king's brother.

He was cutting horses from three-colored prints and was sailing them up the chimney.

At the left of the fireplace, the dark locks of the girl mingling with the golden curls of the boy, both poring over a hook filled with war-like pictures, the one interested by the martial spirit native to his blood, the other by the desire to please, sat the boy Louis and Mademoiselle de Mancini, Mazarin's niece.
From time to time the cardinal permitted his gaze to wander in their direction, and there was fatherly affection in his smile.

Mazarin liked to call these gatherings "family parties." The center of the gallery presented an animated scene.

The beautiful Madame de Turenne, whose husband was the marechal-general of the armies of France, then engaged in war against Spain, under whose banners the great Conde was meeting with a long series of defeats, the Comtesse de Soissons, the Abbe de la Rivre, Madame de Brigy, the Duc and Duchesse de Montausier,--all were laughing and exchanging badinage with the Duc de Gramont, who was playing execrably on Mademoiselle de Longueville's guitar.