The king at once guessed there must be some mystery in this want of respect.

"What is it ?" cried the king, full of hope.
"This, sire, that the friend whom the king calumniates is going to try if he cannot restore to his sovereign the happiness he has lost." "Are you going to let me see La Valliere ?" said Louis XIV.
"I cannot say so, positively, but I hope so." "How--how ?--tell me that, Saint-Aignan.

I wish to know what your project is, and to help you with all my power." "Sire," replied Saint-Aignan, "I cannot, even myself, tell very well how I must set about attaining success; but I have every reason to believe that from to-morrow--" "To-morrow, do you say! What happiness! But why are you changing your rooms ?" "In order to serve your majesty to better advantage." "How can your moving serve me ?" "Do you happen to know where the two rooms destined for De Guiche are situated ?" "Yes." "Well, your majesty now knows where I am going." "Very likely; but that does not help me." "What! is it possible that you do not understand, sire, that above De Guiche's lodgings are two rooms, one of which is Mademoiselle Montalais's, and the other--" "La Valliere's, is it not so, Saint-Aignan?
Oh! yes, yes.

It is a brilliant idea, Saint-Aignan, a true friend's idea, a poet's idea.

By bringing me nearer her from whom the world seems to unite to separate me--you are far more than Pylades was for Orestes, or Patroclus for Achilles." "Sire," said Aignan, with a smile, "I question whether, if your majesty were to know my projects in their full extent, you would continue to pronounce such a pompous eulogium upon me.