And so he did not spare Madame a single word of the whole affair.

When he had finished, Madame said to him, "Confess, now, that is his all a charming invention." "Invention, no; a true story, yes." "Confess, whether invention or true story, that it was told to you as you have told it to me, but that you were not there." "Upon my honor, Madame, I was there." "And you think that these confessions may have made an impression on the king ?" "Certainly, as those of Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente did upon me," replied Saint-Aignan; "do not forget, Madame, that Mademoiselle de la Valliere compared the king to the sun; that was flattering enough." "The king does not permit himself to be influenced by such flatteries." "Madame, the king is just as much Adonis as Apollo; and I saw plain enough just now when La Valliere fell into his arms." "La Valliere fell into the king's arms!" "Oh! it was the most graceful picture possible; just imagine, La Valliere had fallen back fainting, and--" "Well! what did you see ?--tell me--speak!" "I saw what ten other people saw at the same time as myself; I saw that when La Valliere fell into his arms, the king almost fainted himself." Madame smothered a subdued cry, the only indication of her smothered anger.
"Thank you," she said, laughing in a convulsive manner, "you relate stories delightfully, M.de Saint-Aignan." And she hurried away, alone, and almost suffocated by painful emotion, towards the chateau..