Saint Aignan did not know which way to turn.

La Valliere had about her, not exactly a court, but sprinklings of courtiers.
Saint-Aignan, hoping by this maneuver to attract Athenais's attention toward him, had approached the young girl, and saluted her with a respect which induced some to believe that he wished to balance Athenais by Louise.

But these were persons who had neither been witnesses of the scene during the shower, nor had heard it spoken of.

But, as the majority was already informed, and well informed, too, on the matter, the acknowledged favor with which she was regarded, had attracted to her side some of the most astute, as well as the least sensible, members of the court.

The former, because they said with Montainge, "What can we tell ?" and the latter, who said with Rabelais, "It is likely." The greatest number had followed in the wake of the latter, just as in hunting five or six of the best hounds alone follow the scent of the animal hunted, while the remainder of the pack follow only the scent of the hounds.