"What portrait ?" he murmured, joining them again.

The chevalier had not taken his eyes off him.
"Yes, the portrait.

Was not the miniature a good likeness ?" "I do not remember.

I had forgotten the portrait; it quite escaped my recollection." "And yet it made a very marked impression upon you," said the chevalier.
"That is not unlikely." "Is she witty, at all events ?" inquired the duke.
"I believe so, my lord." "Is M.de Buckingham witty, too ?" said the chevalier.
"I do not know." "My own opinion is that he must be," replied the chevalier, "for he makes Madame laugh, and she seems to take no little pleasure in his society, which never happens to a clever woman when in the company of a simpleton." "Of course, then, he must be clever," said De Guiche, simply.
At this moment Raoul opportunely arrived, seeing how De Guiche was pressed by his dangerous questioner, to whom he addressed a remark, and in that way changed the conversation.

The _entree_ was brilliant and joyous.
The king, in honor of his brother, had directed that the festivities should be on a scale of the greatest possible magnificence.