He stepped back a few paces, and looked among the file of carriages for the purpose of recognizing the one in which he took so strong an interest.

At the door of the sixth carriage he saw La Valliere's fair countenance.

As the king thus stood motionless, wrapped in thought, without perceiving that everything was ready, and that he alone was causing the delay, he heard a voice close beside him, addressing him in the most respectful manner.

It was M.Malicorne, in a complete costume of an equerry, holding over his left arm the bridles of a couple of horses.
"Your majesty asked for a horse, I believe," he said.
"A horse?
Have you one of my horses here ?" inquired the king, who endeavored to remember the person who addressed him, and whose face was not as yet very familiar to him.
"Sire," replied Malicorne, "at all events I have a horse which is at your majesty's service." And Malicorne pointed at Monsieur's bay horse, which Madame had observed.

It was a beautiful creature and most royally caparisoned.
"This is not one of my horses, monsieur," said the king.
"Sire, it is a horse out of his royal highness's stable; but his royal highness does not ride when the weather is as hot as it is now." The king did not reply, but hastily approached the horse, which stood pawing the ground with his foot.