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The King's Secret.
On his way Louis met the Comte de Saint-Aignan.

"Well, Saint-Aignan," he inquired, with affected interest, "how is the invalid." "Really, sire," stammered Saint-Aignan, "to my shame, I confess I do not know." "What! you do not know ?" said the king, pretending to take in a serious manner this want of attention for the object of his predilection.
"Will your majesty pardon me; but I have just met one of our three loquacious wood-nymphs, and I confess that my attention has been taken away from other matters." "Ah!" said the king, eagerly, "you have found, then--" "The one who deigned to speak of me in such advantageous terms; and, having found mine, I was searching for yours, sire, when I had the happiness to meet your majesty." "Very well; but Mademoiselle de la Valliere before everything else," said the king, faithful to the character he had assumed.
"Oh! our charming invalid!" said Saint-Aignan; "how fortunately her fainting fit came on, since your majesty had already occupied yourself about her." "What is the name of your fair lady, Saint-Aignan?
Is it a secret ?" "It ought to be a secret, and a very great one, even; but your majesty is well aware that no secret can possibly exist for you." "Well, what is her name ?" "Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente." "Is she pretty ?" "Exceedingly, sire; and I recognized the voice which pronounced my name in such tender accents.

I accosted her, questioned her as well as I was able to do, in the midst of the crowd; and she told me, without suspecting anything, that a little while ago she was under the great oak, with her two friends, when the sound of a wolf or a robber had terrified them, and made them run away." "But," inquired the king, anxiously, "what are the names of these two friends ?" "Sire," said Saint-Aignan, "will your majesty send me forthwith to the Bastile ?" "What for ?" "Because I am an egotist and a fool.

My surprise was so great at such a conquest, and at so fortunate a discovery, that I went no further in my inquiries.