LOUISE DE LA YALLIERE. 207

CHAPTER XXXIII. WHICH TREATS OF CARPENTRY OPERATIONS, AND FURNISHES DETAILS UPON THE MODE OF CONSTRUCTING STAIR- CASES. The advice which had been given to Montalais was com- municated by her to La Valliere, who could not but acknowledge that it was by no means deficient in judgment, and who, after a certain amount of resistance, arising rather from her timidity than from her indifference to the project, resolved to put it into execution. This story of the two girls weeping, and filling madame's bedroom with the noisiest lamentations, was Malicorne's chef-iVceuvre. As nothing is so probable as improbability, so natural as romance, this kind of Arabian Nights story succeeded per- fectly with madame. The first thing she did was to send Montalais away, and then, three days, or rather three nights, afterward, she had La Valliere removed. She gave to the latter one of the small rooms on the top story, situ- ated immediately over the apartments allotted to the gen- tlemen of Monsieur's suite. One story only, that is to say, a mere flooring, separated the maids of honor from the officers and gentlemen of her husband's household. A private staircase, which was placed under Mme. de Navailles* surveillance, was the only means of communication. For greater safety, Mme. de Kavailles, who had heard of his majesty's previous attempts, had the windows of the rooms and the openings of the chimneys carefully barred. There was, therefore, every possible security provided for Mile, de la Valliere, whose room bore more resemblance to a cage than to anything else. When Mile, de la Valliere was in her own room, and she was there very frequently, for ma- dame scarcely ever had any occasion for her services, since she once knew she was safe under Mme. de Navailles' in- spection. Mile, de la Valliere had no other means of amus- ing herself than that of looking through the bars of her windows. It happened, therefore, that one morning, as she was looking out, as usual, she perceived Malicorne at one of the windows exactly opposite to her own. He held a carpenter's rule in his hand, was surveying the buildings, and seemed to be adding up some figures on paper. La Valliere recognized Malicorne and bowed to him; Mali- corne, in his turn, replied by a profound bow, and disap- peared from the window. She was surprised at this marked