To make a state matter of the loss of the handkerchief would be to act absurdly, and he therefore added, "There was a letter of some importance inside the handkerchief, which had somehow got among the folds of it." "Sire," said the valet, "your majesty had only one handkerchief, and that is it." "True, true," replied the king, setting his teeth hard together.

"Oh, poverty, how I envy you! Happy is the man who can empty his own pockets of letters and handkerchiefs!" He read La Valliere's letter over again, endeavoring to imagine in what conceivable way his verses could have reached their destination.

There was a postscript to the letter: "I send you back by your messenger this reply, so unworthy of what you sent me." "So far so good; I shall find out something now," he said delightedly.
"Who is waiting, and who brought me this letter ?" "M.

Malicorne," replied the _valet de chambre_, timidly.
"Desire him to come in." Malicorne entered.
"You come from Mademoiselle de la Valliere ?" said the king, with a sigh.
"Yes, sire." "And you took Mademoiselle de la Valliere something from me ?" "I, sire ?" "Yes, you." "Oh, no, sire." "Mademoiselle de la Valliere says so, distinctly." "Oh, sire, Mademoiselle de la Valliere is mistaken." The king frowned.

"What jest is this ?" he said; "explain yourself.