.

The King's Uneasiness.
Let us leave poor La Valliere, who had fainted in the arms of her two companions, and return to the precincts of the royal oak.

The young girls had hardly run twenty paces, when the sound which had so much alarmed them was renewed among the branches.

A man's figure might indistinctly be perceived, and putting the branches of the bushes aside, he appeared upon the verge of the wood, and perceiving that the place was empty, burst out into a peal of laughter.

It is almost superfluous to add that the form in question was that of a young and handsome cavalier, who immediately made a sign to another, who thereupon made his appearance.
"What, sire," said the second figure, advancing timidly, "has your majesty put our young sentimentalists to flight ?" "It seems so," said the king, "and you can show yourself without fear." "Take care, sire, you will be recognized." "But I tell you they are flown." "This is a most fortunate meeting, sire; and, if I dared offer an opinion to your majesty, we ought to follow them." "They are far enough away by this time." "They would quickly allow themselves to be overtaken, especially if they knew who were following them." "What do you mean by that, coxcomb that you are ?" "Why, one of them seems to have taken a fancy to me, and another compared you to the sun." "The greater reason why we should not show ourselves, Saint-Aignan.