He led the way thither, conducting by the hand a lady, the queen, by his preference, of the evening.

The musicians then supped, and the promenades in the gallery and the gardens commenced, beneath a spring sky, mild and flower-scented.

Pelisson then approached the superintendent, and said: "Something troubles monseigneur ?" "Greatly," replied the minister; "ask Gourville to tell you what it is." Pelisson, on turning round, found La Fontaine treading upon his heels.
He was obliged to listen to a Latin verse, which the poet had composed upon Vatel.

La Fontaine had, for an hour, been scanning this verse in all corners, seeking some one to pour it out upon advantageously.

He thought he had caught Pelisson, but the latter escaped him; he turned towards Sorel, who had, himself, just composed a _quatrain_ in honor of the supper, and the _Amphytrion_.