The king listened.
"Because, for instance," said Malicorne, "a ladder nineteen feet high is just the height of the cornice of those windows." Manicamp, instead of answering, was dreaming of something else.
"Ask me, can't you, what windows I mean," whispered Malicorne.
"But what windows are you referring to ?" said Manicamp, aloud.
"The windows of Madame's apartments." "Eh!" "Oh! I don't say that any one would ever venture to go up a ladder into Madame's room; but in Madame's cabinet, merely separated by a partition, sleep two exceedingly pretty girls, Mesdemoiselles de la Valliere and de Montalais." "By a partition ?" said Manicamp.
"Look; you see how brilliantly lighted Madame's apartments are--well, do you see those two windows ?" "Yes." "And that window close to the others, but more dimly lighted ?" "Yes." "Well, that is the room of the maids of honor.

Look, there is Mademoiselle de la Valliere opening the window.

Ah! how many soft things could an enterprising lover say to her, if he only suspected that there was lying here a ladder nineteen feet long, which would just reach the cornice." "But she is not alone; you said Mademoiselle de Montalais is with her." "Mademoiselle de Montalais counts for nothing; she is her oldest friend, and exceedingly devoted to her--a positive well, into which can be thrown all sorts of secrets one might wish to get rid of." The king did not lose a single syllable of this conversation.

Malicorne even remarked that his majesty slackened his pace, in order to give him time to finish.

So, when they arrived at the door, Louis dismissed every one, with the exception of Malicorne--a circumstance which excited no surprise, for it was known that the king was in love; and they suspected he was going to compose some verses by moonlight; and, although there was no moon that evening, the king might, nevertheless, have some verses to compose.