This movement induced Madame to look toward the door, and at that moment the captain of the guards announced the king.

At this moment, La Valliere, who had hitherto kept her eyes fixed upon the gallery, suddenly cast them down as the king entered.

His majesty was dressed magnificently and in the most perfect taste; he was conversing with Monsieur and the Duc de Roquelaure, Monsieur on his right and the Duc de Roquelaure on his left.

The king advanced, in the first place, toward the queens, to whom he bowed with an air full of graceful respect.

He took his mother's hand and kissed it, addressed a few compliments to Madame upon the beauty of her toilet, and then began to make the round of the assembly.