de Querouaille, and that the King had discovered special reasons for conciliating the gentleman by every means, and took as much pains to please him as to gain favour with the lady herself.

Here was a good reason for M.de Perrencourt's distinguished treatment, and no less for the composure and calm with which M.de Perrencourt accepted it.

To my mind, however, the manner of M.de Perrencourt's arrival and the incident of M.Colbert's Star found scarcely a sufficient explanation in this ingenious conjecture; yet the story, thus circulated, was generally accepted and served its office of satisfying curiosity and blunting question well enough.
Again (for my curiosity would not be satisfied, nor the edge of my questioning be turned)--what had the Duke of Monmouth to gain from M.de Perrencourt?
Something it seemed, or his conduct was most mysterious.

He cared nothing for Mlle.

de Querouaille, and I could not suppose that the mere desire to please his father would have weighed with him so strongly as to make him to all appearance the humble servant of this French gentleman.