My life is exposed to every one's inspection, and can be opened like a book, in which all the world can read, from the king himself to the first passer-by.

Aure, dearest Aure, what can I do--what will become of me ?" Montalais approached close to her, and said, "Consult your own heart, of course." "Well; I do not love M.de Bragelonne; when I say I do not love him, understand that I love him as the most affectionate sister could love the best of brothers, but that is not what he requires, nor what I promised him." "In fact, you love the king," said Montalais, "and that is a sufficiently good excuse." "Yes, I do love the king," hoarsely murmured the young girl, "and I have paid dearly enough for pronouncing those words.

And now, Montalais, tell me--what can you do either for me, or against me, in my position ?" "You must speak more clearly still." "What am I to say, then ?" "And so you have nothing very particular to tell me ?" "No!" said Louise, in astonishment.
"Very good; and so all you have to ask me is my advice respecting M.
Raoul ?" "Nothing else." "It is a very delicate subject," replied Montalais.
"No, it is nothing of the kind.

Ought I to marry him in order to keep the promise I made, or ought I continue to listen to the king ?" "You have really placed me in a very difficult position," said Montalais, smiling; "you ask me if you ought to marry Raoul, whose friend I am, and whom I shall mortally offend in giving my opinion against him; and then, you ask me if you should cease to listen to the king, whose subject I am, and whom I should offend if I were to advise you in a particular way.

Ah, Louise, you seem to hold a difficult position at a very cheap rate." "You have not understood me, Aure," said La Valliere, wounded by the slightly mocking tone of her companion; "if I were to marry M.de Bragelonne, I should be far from bestowing on him the happiness he deserves; but, for the same reason, if I listen to the king he would become the possessor of one indifferent in very many aspects, I admit, but one whom his affection confers an appearance of value.