"Monsieur le comte," he said, "have the goodness to observe that the flooring of Mademoiselle de la Valliere's room is merely a wooden flooring." "Well ?" "Well! all you would have to do would be to get hold of a journeyman carpenter, lock him up in your apartments, without letting him know where you have taken him to, and let him make a hole in your ceiling, and consequently in the flooring of Mademoiselle de la Valliere's room." "Good heavens!" exclaimed Saint-Aignan, as if dazzled.
"What is the matter ?" said Malicorne.
"Nothing, except that you have hit upon a singular, bold idea, monsieur." "It will seem a very trifling one to the king, I assure you." "Lovers never think of the risk they run." "What danger do you apprehend, monsieur le comte ?" "Why, effecting such an opening as that will make a terrible noise: it could be heard all over the palace." "Oh! monsieur le comte, I am quite sure that the carpenter I shall select will not make the slightest noise in the world.

He will saw an opening three feet square, with a saw covered with tow, and no one, not even those adjoining, will know that he is at work." "My dear Monsieur Malicorne, you astound, you positively bewilder me." "To continue," replied Malicorne, quietly, "in the room, the ceiling of which you will have cut through, you will put up a staircase, which will either allow Mademoiselle de la Valliere to descend into your room, or the king to ascend into Mademoiselle de la Valliere's room." "But the staircase will be seen." "No; for in your room it will be hidden by a partition, over which you will throw a tapestry similar to that which covers the rest of the apartment; and in Mademoiselle de la Valliere's room it will not be seen, for the trapdoor, which will be a part of the flooring itself, will be made to open under the bed." "Of course," said Saint-Aignan, whose eyes began to sparkle with delight.
"And now, monsieur le comte, there is no occasion to make you admit that the king will frequently come to the room where such a staircase is constructed.

I think that M.Dangeau, particularly, will be struck by my idea, and I shall now go and explain to him." "But, my dear Monsieur Malicorne, you forget that you spoke to me about it the first, and that I have consequently the right of priority." "Do you wish for the preference ?" "Do I wish it?
Of course I do." "The fact is, Monsieur de Saint-Aignan, I am presenting you with a Jacob's ladder, which is better than the promise of an additional step in the peerage--perhaps, even with a good estate to accompany your dukedom." "At least," replied Saint-Aignan, "it will give me an opportunity of showing the king that he is not mistaken in occasionally calling me his friend; an opportunity, dear M.Malicorne, for which I am indebted to you." "And which you will not forget to remember ?" inquired Malicorne, smiling.
"Nothing will delight me more, monsieur." "But I am not the king's friend; I am simply his attendant." "Yes; and if you imagine that that staircase is as good as a dukedom for myself, I think there will certainly be letters of nobility at the top of it for you." Malicorne bowed.
"All I have to do now," said Saint-Aignan, "is to move as soon as possible." "I do not think the king will object to it.

Ask his permission, however." "I will go and see him this very moment." "And I will run and get the carpenter I was speaking of." "When will he be here ?" "This very evening." "Do not forget your precautions." "He shall be brought with his eyes bandaged." "And I will send you one of my carriages." "Without arms." "And one of my servants without livery.

But stay, what will La Valliere say if she sees what is going on ?" "Oh! I can assure you she will be very much interested in the operation, and I am equally sure that if the king has not courage enough to ascend to her room, she will have sufficient curiosity to come down to him." "We will live in hope," said Saint-Aignan; "and now I am off to his majesty.