Who is she ?" "It is Mademoiselle de la Valliere, sire." "Mademoiselle de la Valliere!" "Yes, sire, she has just fainted." "Poor child!" said the king.

"Quick, quick, fetch a surgeon." But however great the anxiety with which the king had pronounced these words may have seemed to others, he had not so carefully schooled himself but that they appeared, as well as the gesture which accompanied them, somewhat cold to Saint-Aignan, to whom the king had confided the sudden love with which she had inspired him.
"Saint-Aignan," continued the king, "watch over Mademoiselle de la Valliere, I beg.

Send for a surgeon.

I will hasten forward and inform Madame of the accident which has befallen one of her maids of honor." And, in fact, while M.de Saint-Aignan was busily engaged in making preparations for carrying Mademoiselle de la Valliere to the chateau, the king hurried forward, happy to have an opportunity of approaching Madame, and of speaking to her under a colorable pretext.

Fortunately, a carriage was passing; the coachman was told to stop, and the persons who were inside, having been informed of the accident, eagerly gave up their seats to Mademoiselle de la Valliere.