La Valliere was saluted in the same manner as the others, but with neither more nor less attention.

His majesty then returned to his mother and his wife.

When the courtiers noticed that the king had only addressed some ordinary remark to the young girl who had been so particularly noticed in the morning, they immediately drew their own conclusion to account for this coldness of manner; this conclusion being, that although the king may have taken a sudden fancy to her, that fancy had already disappeared.

One thing, however, must be remarked, that close beside La Valliere, among the number of the courtiers, M.Fouquet was to be seen; and his respectfully attentive manner served to sustain the young girl in the midst of the varied emotions which visibly agitated her.
M.Fouquet was just on the point, moreover, of speaking in a more friendly manner with Mademoiselle de la Valliere, when M.de Colbert approached, and after having bowed to Fouquet with a formality which the rules of the most respectful politeness could require, he seemed to take up a post beside La Valliere, for the purpose of entering into conversation with her.

Fouquet immediately quitted his place.