Ten Years Later

  "Monseigneur--The king is about to set out for the frontiers. You areaware that the marriage of his majesty is concluded upon. The king hasdone me the honor to appoint me his marechal-des-logis for this journey,and as I knew with what joy his majesty would pass a day at Blois, Iventure to ask your royal highness's permission to mark the house youinhabit as our quarters. If, however, the suddenness of this requestshould create to your royal highness any embarrassment, I entreat you tosay so by the messenger I send, a gentleman of my suite, M. le Vicomtede Bragelonne. My itinerary will depend upon your royal highness'sdetermination, and instead of passing through Blois, we shall comethrough Vendome and Romorantin. I venture to hope that your royalhighness will be pleased with my arrangement, it being the expression ofmy boundless desire to make myself agreeable to you."