Yet--" "Well, yet--" "While we have time, I think it will be prudent to turn back." "But I, on the contrary, think the wisest course to take is to put ourselves at once at the head of all these intrigues." "You will never be able to do it." "With you, I could superintend ten of them.

I am in my element, you must know.

I was born to live at the court, as the salamander is made to live in the fire." "Your comparison does not reassure me in the slightest degree in the world, my dear Montalais.

I have heard it said, and by learned men too, that, in the first place, there are no salamanders at all, and that, if there had been any, they would have been infallibly baked or roasted on leaving the fire." "Your learned men may be very wise as far as salamanders are concerned, but they would never tell you what I can tell you; namely, that Aure de Montalais is destined, before a month is over, to become the first diplomatist in the court of France." "Be it so, but on condition that I shall be the second." "Agreed; an offensive and defensive alliance, of course." "Only be very careful of any letters." "I will hand them to you as I receive them." "What shall we tell the king about Madame ?" "That Madame is still in love with his majesty." "What shall we tell Madame about the king ?" "That she would be exceedingly wrong not to humor him." "What shall we tell La Valliere about Madame ?" "Whatever we choose, for La Valliere is in our power." "How so ?" "Every way." "What do you mean ?" "In the first place, through the Vicomte de Bragelonne." "Explain yourself." "You do not forget, I hope, that Monsieur de Bragelonne has written many letters to Mademoiselle de la Valliere." "I forget nothing." "Well, then, it was I who received, and I who intercepted those letters." "And, consequently, it is you who have them still ?" "Yes." "Where,--here ?" "Oh, no; I have them safe at Blois, in the little room you know well enough." "That dear little room,--that darling little room, the ante-chamber of the palace I intend you to live in one of these days.

But, I beg your pardon, you said that all those letters are in that little room ?" "Yes." "Did you not put them in a box ?" "Of course; in the same box where I put all the letters I received from you, and where I put mine also when your business or your amusements prevented you from coming to our rendezvous." "Ah, very good," said Malicorne.
"Why are you satisfied ?" "Because I see there is a possibility of not having to run to Blois after the letters, for I have them here." "You have brought the box away ?" "It was very dear to me, because it belonged to you." "Be sure and take care of it, for it contains original documents that will be of priceless value by and by." "I am perfectly well aware of that indeed, and that is the very reason why I laugh as I do, and with all my heart, too." "And now, one last word." "Why _last ?_" "Do we need any one to assist us ?" "No one." "Valets or maid-servants ?" "Bad policy.