Madame then entered the room, and with a perfectly calm air took her seat beside her mother-in-law, and continued the work which Maria Theresa had begun.

When La Valliere, instead of the direction which she expected to receive immediately on entering the room, perceived these preparations, she looked with curiosity, if not with uneasiness, at the two princesses.

Anne seemed full of thought, while Madame maintained an affectation of indifference that would have alarmed a less timid person even than Louise.
"Mademoiselle," said the queen-mother suddenly, without attempting to moderate or disguise her Spanish accent, which she never failed to do except when she was angry, "come closer; we were talking of you, as every one else seems to be doing." "Of me!" exclaimed La Valliere, turning pale.
"Do you pretend to be ignorant of it; are you not aware of the duel between M.de Guiche and M.de Wardes ?" "Oh, madame! I heard of it yesterday," said La Valliere, clasping her hands together.
"And did you not foresee this quarrel ?" "Why should I, madame ?" "Because two men never fight without a motive, and because you must be aware of the motive which awakened the animosity of the two in question." "I am perfectly ignorant of it, madame." "A persevering denial is a very commonplace mode of defense, and you, who have great pretensions to be witty and clever, ought to avoid commonplaces.

What else have you to say ?" "Oh! madame, your majesty terrifies me with your cold severity of manner; but I do not understand how I can have incurred your displeasure, or in what respect people concern themselves about me." "Then I will tell you.

M.de Guiche has been obliged to undertake your defense." "My defense ?" "Yes.