V.must positively pass the night the night with Madame." Montalais, in pursuance of the compact she had entered into, began by burning the letter, and then sat down to reflect.

Montalais was a girl full of expedients, and so she very soon arranged her plan.

Towards five o'clock, which was the hour for her to repair to Madame's apartment, she was running across the courtyard, and had reached within a dozen paces of a group of officers, when she uttered a cry, fell gracefully on one knee, rose again, with difficulty, and walked on limpingly.

The gentlemen ran forward to her assistance; Montalais had sprained her foot.

Faithful to the discharge of her duty, she insisted, however, notwithstanding her accident, upon going to Madame's apartments.
"What is the matter, and why do you limp so ?" she inquired; "I mistook you for La Valliere." Montalais related how it had happened, that in hurrying on, in order to arrive as quickly as possible, she had sprained her foot.