During this time the king was tranquilly conversing with De Guiche and Fouquet, rather letting them talk than himself listening.

Accustomed to the set form of ordinary phrases, his ear, like that of all men who exercise an incontestable superiority over others, merely selected from the conversations held in various directions the indispensable word which requires reply.

His attention, however, was now elsewhere, for it wandered as his eyes did.
Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente was the last of the ladies inscribed for tickets; and, as if she had ranked according to her name upon the list, she only had Montalais and La Valliere after her.

When the bracelets reached these two latter, no one appeared to take any further notice of them.

The humble hands which for a moment touched these jewels, deprived them of all their importance--a circumstance which did not, however, prevent Montalais from starting with joy, envy, and covetous desire, at the sight of the beautiful stones still more than at their magnificent workmanship.