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How De Wardes Was Received at Court.
Monsieur had received De Wardes with that marked favor light and frivolous minds bestow on every novelty that comes in their way.

De Wardes, who had been absent for a month, was like fresh fruit to him.
To treat him with marked kindness was an infidelity to old friends, and there is always something fascinating in that; moreover, it was a sort of reparation to De Wardes himself.

Nothing, consequently, could exceed the favorable notice Monsieur took of him.

The Chevalier de Lorraine, who feared this rival but a little, but who respected a character and disposition only too parallel to his own in every particular, with the addition of a bull-dog courage he did not himself possess, received De Wardes with a greater display of regard and affection than even Monsieur had done.