200 LOUISE DE LA VALLIERE. him for what he had done as if he had rendered him the greatest service. "This is the second fortunate meeting I have had with you, monsieur," he said; "you may count upon my friendly feeling. The plain and sober truth was, that Malicorne had picked the king's-pocket of the handkerchief as dexterously as any of the pickpockets of the good city of Paris could have done. Madame never knew of this little incident, but Montalais gave La Valliere some idea of the manner in which it had really happened, and La Valliere afterward told the king, who laughed exceedingly at it, and pronounced Mali- corne to be a first-rate politician. Louis XIV. was right, and it is well known that he was tolerably acquainted with human nature. CHAPTER XXXIL WHICH TREATS OF GARDENERS, OF LADDERS, AND MAIDS OF HONOR. Miracles, unfortunately, could not always last forever, while madame's ill-humor still continued to last. In a week's time matters had reached such a point that the king could no longer look at La Valliere without a look of sus- picion crossing his own. Whenever a promenade was pro- posed, madame, in order to avoid the recurrence of similar scenes to that of the thunder-storm, or the royal oak, had a variety of indispositions ready prepared; and, thanks to them, she was unable to go out, and her maids of honor were obliged to retain indoors also. There was not the slightest chance or means of paying a nocturnal visit; for in this respect the king had, on the very first occasion, ex- perienced a severe check, which happened in the following manner. As at Fontainebleau, he had taken St. Aignan with him one evening, when he wished to pay La Valliere a visit; but he had found no one but Mile, de Tonnay- Charente, who had begun to call out fire and thieves in such a manner that a perfect legion of chamber-maids, attend- ants, and pages ran to her assistance; so that St. Aignan, who had remained behind in order to save the honor of his royal master, who had fled precipitately, was obliged to submit to a severe scolding from the queen-mother, as well as from madame herself. In addition, he had, the next
