picious packet, and in order to read it so that no one should remark its effect upon his countenance, he turned round.
Madame followed, with an anxiety almost equal to that of the prince, every maneuver of her august husband.
Raoul, impassible, and a little disengaged by the attention of his hosts, looked from his place through the open window at the gardens and the statues which peopled them.
"Well!" cried Monsieur, all at once, with a cheerful smile; "here is an agreeable surprise, and a charming letter from Monsieur le Prince. Look, madame!"
The table was too large to allow the arm of the prince to reach the hand of madame; Raoul sprung forward to be their intermediary, and did it with so good a grace as to procure a flattering acknowledgment from the princess.
"You know the contents of this letter, no doubt?" said Gaston to Raoul.
"Yes, monseigneur; Monsieur le Prince gave me the message verbally, but upon reflection his highness took up his pen."
"It is beautiful writing," said madame, "but I cannot read it."
"Will you read it to madame, Monsieur de Bragelonne?" said the duke.
"Yes; read it, if you please, monsieur."
Raoul began to read, Monsieur giving again all his attention. The letter was conceived in these terms:
"Monseigneur: The king is about to set out for the frontiers. You are aware that the marriage of his majesty is concluded upon. The king has done me the honor to appoint me his maréchal-des-logis for this journey and as I knew with what joy his majesty would pass a day at Blois, I venture to ask your royal highness' permission to mark the house you inhabit as our quarters. If, however, the suddenness of this request should create to your royal highness any embarrassment, I entreat you to say so by the messenger I send, a gentleman of my suite, Monsieur le Vicomte de Bragelonne. My itinerary will depend upon your royal highness' determination, and instead of passing through Blois, we shall come through Vendome and Eomorantin. I venture to hope that your royal highness will be pleased with my arrangement, it being the expression of my boundless desire to make myself agreeable to you."
"Nothing can be more gracious toward us," said madame,
