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yes, monsieur,” said Malicorne, smiling in his turn.

      “Very good. I will speak to Monsieur about it. By the by, she is of gentle birth?”

      “She belongs to a very good family and is maid of honor to Madame.”

      “That’s well. Will you accompany me to Monsieur?”

      “Most certainly, if I may be permitted the honor.”

      “Have you your carriage?”

      “No; I came here on horseback.”

      “Dressed as you are?”

      “No, monsieur; I posted from Orleans, and I changed my traveling suit for the one I have on, in order to present myself to you.”

      “True, you already told me you had come from Orleans;” saying which he crumpled Manicamp’s letter in his hand, and thrust it in his pocket.

      “I beg your pardon,” said Malicorne, timidly; “but I do not think you have read all.”

      “Not read all, do you say?”

      “No; there were two letters in the same envelope.”

      “Oh! are you sure?”

      “Quite sure.”

      “Let us look, then,” said the count, as he opened the letter again.

      “Ah! you are right,” he said opening the paper which he had not yet read.

      “I suspected it,” he continued – “another application for an appointment under Monsieur. This Manicamp is a regular vampire: – he is carrying on a trade in it.”

      “No, monsieur le comte, he wishes to make a present of it.”

      “To whom?”

      “To myself, monsieur.”

      “Why did you not say so at once, my dear M. Mauvaisecorne?”

      “Malicorne, monsieur le comte.”

      “Forgive me; it is that Latin that bothers me – that terrible mine of etymologies. Why the deuce are young men of family taught Latin? Mala and mauvaise– you understand it is the same thing. You will forgive me, I trust, M. de Malicorne.”

      “Your kindness affects me much, monsieur: but it is a reason why I should make you acquainted with one circumstance without any delay.”

      “What is it?”

      “That I was not born a gentleman. I am not without courage, and not altogether deficient in ability; but my name is Malicorne simply.”

      “You appear to me, monsieur!” exclaimed the count, looking at the astute face of his companion, “to be a most agreeable man. Your face pleases me, M. Malicorne, and you must possess some indisputably excellent qualities to have pleased that egotistical Manicamp. Be candid and tell me whether you are not some saint descended upon the earth.”

      “Why so?”

      “For the simple reason that he makes you a present of anything. Did you not say that he intended to make you a present of some appointment in the king’s household?”

      “I beg your pardon, count; but, if I succeed in obtaining the appointment, you, and not he, will have bestowed it on me.”

      “Besides he will not have given it to you for nothing, I suppose. Stay, I have it; – there is a Malicorne at Orleans who lends money to the prince.”

      “I think that must be my father, monsieur.”

      “Ah! the prince has the father, and that terrible dragon of a Manicamp has the son. Take care, monsieur, I know him. He will fleece you completely.”

      “The only difference is, that I lend without interest,” said Malicorne, smiling.

      “I was correct in saying you were either a saint or very much resembled one. M. Malicorne, you shall have the post you want, or I will forfeit my name.”

      “Ah! monsieur le comte, what a debt of gratitude shall I not owe you?” said Malicorne, transported.

      “Let us go to the prince, my dear M. Malicorne.” And De Guiche proceeded toward the door, desiring Malicorne to follow him. At the very moment they were about to cross the threshold, a young man appeared on the other side. He was from twenty-four to twenty-five years of age, of pale complexion, bright eyes and brown hair and eyebrows. “Good-day,” said he, suddenly, almost pushing De Guiche back into the courtyard again.

      “Is that you, De Wardes? – What! and booted, spurred and whip in hand, too?”

      “The most befitting costume for a man about to set off for Le Havre. There will be no one left in Paris to-morrow.” And hereupon he saluted Malicorne with great ceremony, whose handsome dress gave him the appearance of a prince.

      “M. Malicorne,” said De Guiche to his friend. De Wardes bowed.

      “M. de Wardes,” said Guiche to Malicorne, who bowed in return. “By the by, De Wardes,” continued De Guiche, “you who are so well acquainted with these matters, can you tell us, probably, what appointments are still vacant at the court; or rather in the prince’s household?”

      “In the prince’s household,” said De Wardes looking up with an air of consideration, “let me see – the appointment of the master of the horse is vacant, I believe.”

      “Oh,” said Malicorne, “there is no question of such a post as that, monsieur; my ambition is not nearly so exalted.”

      De Wardes had a more penetrating observation than De Guiche, and fathomed Malicorne immediately. “The fact is,” he said, looking at him from head to foot, “a man must be either a duke or a peer to fill that post.”

      “All I solicit,” said Malicorne, “is a very humble appointment; I am of little importance, and I do not rank myself above my position.”

      “M. Malicorne, whom you see here,” said De Guiche to De Wardes, “is a very excellent fellow, whose only misfortune is that of not being of gentle birth. As far as I am concerned, you know, I attach little value to those who have but gentle birth to boast of.”

      “Assuredly,” said De Wardes; “but will you allow me to remark, my dear count, that, without rank of some sort, one can hardly hope to belong to his royal highness’s household?”

      “You are right,” said the count, “court etiquette is absolute. The devil! – we never so much as gave it a thought.”

      “Alas! a sad misfortune for me, monsieur le comte,” said Malicorne, changing color.

      “Yet not without remedy, I hope,” returned De Guiche.

      “The remedy is found easily enough,” exclaimed De Wardes; “you can be created a gentleman. His Eminence, the Cardinal Mazarin, did nothing else from morning till night.”

      “Hush, hush, De Wardes,” said the count; “no jests of that kind; it ill becomes us to turn such matters into ridicule. Letters of nobility, it is true, are purchasable; but that is a sufficient misfortune without the nobles themselves laughing at it.”

      “Upon my word, De Guiche, you’re quite a Puritan, as the English say.”

      At this moment the Vicomte de Bragelonne was announced by one of the servants in the courtyard, in precisely the same manner as he would have done in a room.

      “Come here, my dear Raoul. What! you, too, booted and spurred? You are setting off, then?”

      Bragelonne approached the group of young men, and saluted them with that quiet and serious manner peculiar to him. His salutation was principally addressed to De Wardes, with whom he was unacquainted, and whose features, on his perceiving Raoul, had assumed a strange sternness of expression. “I have come, De Guiche,” he said, “to ask your companionship. We set off for Le Havre, I presume.”

      “This is admirable – delightful. We shall have a most enjoyable journey. M. Malicorne, M. Bragelonne – ah! M. de Wardes, let me present

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