I was so pleased with this distinction that I made my court to

her with greater assiduity than usual. One evening the King and the

ladies of the Court rode out to take the air in the forest, but the

Queen, being a little indisposed did not go; I stayed to wait upon her,

and she walked down to the pond-side, and dismissed her gentlemen

ushers, that she might be more at liberty. After she had taken a few

turns she came up to me, and bid me follow her; 'I would speak with

you,' says she, 'and by what I shall say you will see I am your

friend.' She stopped here, and looking earnestly at me; 'You are in

love,' continued she, 'and because perhaps you have made nobody your

confidant, you think that your love is not known; but it is known, and

even by persons who are interested in it: you are observed, the place

where you see your mistress is discovered, and there's a design to

surprise you; I don't know who she is, nor do I ask you to tell me, I

would only secure you from the misfortunes into which you may fall.'

See, I beseech you, what a snare the Queen laid for me, and how

difficult it was for me not to fall into it; she had a mind to know if

I was in love, and as she did not ask me who I was in love with, but

let me see her intention was only to serve me, I had no suspicion that

she spoke either out of curiosity or by design.

"Nevertheless, contrary to all probability, I saw into the bottom of

the matter; I was in love with Madam de Themines, but though she loved

me again, I was not happy enough to have private places to see her in

without danger of being discovered there, and so I was satisfied she

could not be the person the Queen meant; I knew also, that I had an

intrigue with another woman less handsome and less reserved than Madam

de Themines, and that it was not impossible but the place where I saw

her might be discovered; but as this was a business I little cared for,

it was easy for me to guard against all sorts of danger by forbearing

to see her; I resolved therefore to acknowledge nothing of it to the

Queen, but to assure her on the contrary that I had a long time laid

aside the desire of gaining women's affections, even where I might hope

for success, because I found them all in some measure unworthy of

engaging the heart of an honourable man, and that it must be something

very much above them which could touch me. 'You do not answer me

ingenuously,' replied the Queen; 'I am satisfied of the contrary; the

free manner in which I speak to you ought to oblige you to conceal

nothing from me; I would have you,' continued she, 'be of the number of

my friends; but I would not, after having admitted you into that rank,

be ignorant of your engagements; consider, whether you think my

friendship will be too dear at the price of making me your confidant; I

give you two days to think on it; but then, consider well of the answer

you shall make me, and remember that if ever I find hereafter you have

deceived me, I shall never forgive you as long as I live.'




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