CHAPTER IX.
LE ROI S'AMUSE.
Captain de Catinat had hardly vanished through the one door before the other was thrown open by Mademoiselle Nanon, and the king entered the room.

Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light upon her visitor's face, and he threw himself down upon the vacant arm-chair with a pouting lip and a frown upon his forehead.
"Nay, now this is a very bad compliment," she cried, with the gaiety which she could assume whenever it was necessary to draw the king from his blacker humours.

"My poor little dark room has already cast a shadow over you." "Nay; it is Father la Chaise and the Bishop of Meaux who have been after me all day like two hounds on a stag, with talk of my duty and my position and my sins, with judgment and hell-fire ever at the end of their exhortations." "And what would they have your Majesty do ?" "Break the promise which I made when I came upon the throne, and which my grandfather made before me.

They wish me to recall the Edict of Nantes, and drive the Huguenots from the kingdom." "Oh, but your Majesty must not trouble your mind about such matters." "You would not have me do it, madame ?" "Not if it is to be a grief to your Majesty." "You have, perchance, some soft feeling for the religion of your youth ?" "Nay, sire; I have nothing but hatred for heresy." "And yet you would not have them thrust out ?" "Bethink you, sire, that the Almighty can Himself incline their hearts to better things if He is so minded, even as mine was inclined.

May you not leave it in His hands ?" "On my word," said Louis, brightening, "it is well put.