The Refugees

She had risen in an instant, with an air as if she had at last seen the welcome guest for wh

eed a pleasu

ry pale, her lips compressed, and her blue eyes had the set stare and the cold glitter of a furious woman. So for an instant they faced each other, the one frowning, the other smiling, two

at I intru

dame, is certainly

has been the governess of my children I have been

re most welcome to do so,” said

t it necessary to ask your permission

the king sternly. “It is my express order to you that every

remember that it is this lady, for sometimes one may get confused as to which name it is that your Majesty has picked out

Angry as he was, his gaze lost something of its sternness as it rested upon her round full throat and the delicate lines of her shapely shoulders. T

e gained, madame, by b

t my cust

find your

en for insolence, sire,

had enoug

ttle truth

madame. I beg that you

fternoon. At four o’clock I had your royal promise that you would come to me. I cannot doubt

s you may observe, is half an hour slow, and

tress you. I am returning to my chamber, an

not found this interview so ple

Majesty wil

ld pref

of your

dam

break yo

ame; this is

you here. I leave you with your conscience and your—your lady confessor. But one word of truth you shall hear before I go. You have been false to your wife, and you have been f

d, bewildered, by so unwonted a sensation. What odour was this which mingled for the first time with the incense amid which he lived? And then his whole soul rose up in anger at her, at the woman who had dared to raise her voice against him. That she should be jealous of and

swift play of his emotions over his expressive face, too

go aft

why,

d her th

, si

! It is infamo

could you

see her.” He pull

g rapidly, with angry gestures, down the corridor. Then she turned back, and dropping upon he

taste natural to a man whose life had been spent in freedom amid the noblest works of nature. Grand as were the mighty fountains and the artificial cascades, they had no overwhelming effect on one who had travelled up from Erie to Ontario, and had seen the Niag

ld never believe else that there was one house in the world wh

guard. He had hardly stationed himself in the corridor when he was astonished to see the King, without escort or attendants, walking swiftly dow

he guard,” sa

, si

de Catinat? You have not b

It is my se

I wish your

your comm

a subalt

Tremouille is at

u will place h

, si

o Monsieur de Vivonne.

, si

and seek him. Wherever he is, y

, si

he palace. His sister, Madame de Montespan, will await him there, and he is charged by me to drive he

sed his sword in salute, an

ony and silver suite, on a deep red carpet of Aleppo, as soft and yielding as the moss of a forest. In keeping with the furniture was the sole occupant of this stately chamber—a litt

mistres

ust return

h to s

sire, b

ge by his velvet collar, he hurled him to the other side of the room. Then,

ouring upon the ceiling, where Louis himself, in the character of Jove, hurled down his thunder-bolts upon a writhing heap of Dutch and Palatine Titans. Pink was the prevailing tone in tapestry, carpet, and furniture, so that the whole room seemed to shine with the sweet tints of the inner side of a shell, and when lit up, as it was then, formed

king, she sprang to her feet and ran towards him, her hands out, her blue eyes bedi

ying my faith! Oh, how could I have said such words to you—how could I pain that noble heart! But you have come after me to tell me that you have forgiven me!” She put her arms

r will await you at the east gate at six o’clock, and it is my c

back as if he

you!” s

leave th

is instant! But you! Ah, sire

. Your insolence has carried you too far this time. You thought that because I was forbearing, I was therefore weak. It appeared to you that if you only humoured me one moment, you might treat me as if I were your equal the next, for that this poor puppet of a king could always be bent this way or

ked!” she cried. “I

hat you have the grac

ppy tongue! I, who have had nothing but good from you! I to insult you, who are the aut

d haughty woman. His other favourites had been amiable to all, but this one was so proud, so unyielding, until she felt his master-hand.

ver for a long time, and your madness today has only hurried wh

is not banishment, it is death to which you sentence me. Think of our long years of love, sire, and say that you forgive me. I have given u

insults today, I forgive them freely, if that will make you more happy in your retirement. But I owe a duty to my subjects also, and that duty is to set them an

you speak as though old age were upon you. In a score of years from now

“Who says so?”

e unawares. Think no more of

thing from me. Who i

not ask

d changed my life not through religion,

our attention. It was but the empty common talk of cavaliers

alk?” Louis f

have known me for nearly twenty ye

as gracious as when you first won the

looked at the beauti

no such great change in Mademoiselle Tonnay–Charente eith

happiness, sire, I shall go

is the pro

s in the past. Adieu, dear sire, adieu!” She threw forward her hands, her eyes dimmed over, and she would have fallen had Louis not sprung forward and caught her in his arms. Her beautiful head drooped upon his shoulder, her breath was warm upon his cheek, and the subtle scent of her hair was in his nostrils. His arm, as he held her, rose and fell with her bosom, and he felt her heart, beneath his hand, fluttering like a caged bird. Her broad white throat was thrown back, her eyes alm

would not have the heart t

u must not anno

, sire, I have seen so little of you lately! And I love

, th

I will be civil for your sake eve

e civil. I cannot hav

held him for an instant at arm’s length to feast her eyes upon his face, and then drew him onc

sh of the evening, all seemed to join in their se

stay,”

ge, dear sire, a

e. You will forgive me. Have you paper and

have also a note which, if I may leave you

d desk, and dashed off a few words upon it. They were: “Should Madame de Maintenon have any message for his Majesty, he will be for the next few hours in the room of M