Athenais thereupon arranged her dress so as to prevent its rustling being heard; and, by a path beyond the group of trees, she regained the flower-garden.

As for Madame, she concealed herself in the thicket, leaning her back against a gigantic chestnut-tree, one of the branches of which had been cut in such a manner as to form a seat, and waited there, full of anxiety and apprehension.

"Now," she said, "since one can hear from this place, let us listen to what M.de Bragelonne and that other madly-in-love fool, the Comte de Guiche, have to say about me.".