One of them thought that Pallas was a very second-rate person compared to her; the other pretended that the lady in question was an imitation of Venus alluring Mars; and thereupon the two gentlemen fought as fiercely as Hector and Achilles." "Venus alluring Mars ?" said the young queen in a low tone of voice without venturing to examine into the allegory very deeply.
"Who is the lady ?" inquired Anne of Austria abruptly.

"You said, I believe, she was one of the ladies of honor ?" "Did I say so ?" replied Madame.
"Yes; at least I thought I heard you mention it." "Are you not aware that such a woman is of ill-omen to a royal house ?" "Is it not Mademoiselle de la Valliere ?" said the queen-mother.
"Yes, indeed, that plain-looking creature." "I thought she was affianced to a gentleman who certainly is not, at least so I have heard, either M.de Guiche or M.de Wardes ?" "Very possibly, madame." The young queen took up a piece of tapestry, and began to broider with an affectation of tranquillity her trembling fingers contradicted.
"What were you saying about Venus and Mars ?" pursued the queen-mother.
"Is there a Mars also ?" "She boasts of that being the case." "Did you say she boasts of it ?" "That was the cause of the duel." "And M.de Guiche upheld the cause of Mars ?" "Yes, certainly; like the devoted servant he is." "The devoted servant of whom ?" exclaimed the young queen, forgetting her reserve in allowing her jealous feeling to escape.
"Mars, not to be defended except at the expense of Venus," replied Madame.

"M.

de Guiche maintained the perfect innocence of Mars, and no doubt affirmed that it was all a mere boast." "And M.de Wardes," said Anne of Austria, quietly, "spread the report that Venus was within her rights, I suppose ?" "Oh, De Wardes," thought Madame, "you shall pay dearly for the wound you have given that noblest--best of men!" And she began to attack De Wardes with the greatest bitterness; thus discharging her own and De Guiche's debt, with the assurance that she was working the future ruin of her enemy.

She said so much, in fact, that had Manicamp been there, he would have regretted he had shown such firm regard for his friend, inasmuch as it resulted in the ruin of his unfortunate foe.
"I see nothing in the whole affair but _one_ cause of mischief, and that is La Valliere herself," said the queen-mother.
The young queen resumed her work with perfect indifference of manner, while Madame listened eagerly.
"I do not yet quite understand what you said just now about the danger of coquetry," resumed Anne of Austria.
"It is quite true," Madame hastened to say, "that if the girl had not been a coquette, Mars would not have thought at all about her." The repetition of this word Mars brought a passing color to the queen's face; but she still continued her work.
"I will not permit that, in my court, gentlemen should be set against each other in this manner," said Anne of Austria, calmly.