correspondence.

Twenty men were on duty with the queen-mother; thirty
rested, in order to relieve their companions the next day.

On the king's side, on the contrary, were darkness, silence,
and solitude. When once the doors were closed, there was no
longer an appearance of royalty. All the servitors had by
degrees retired. Monsieur le Prince had sent to know if his
majesty required his attendance; and on the customary "No"
of the lieutenant of musketeers, who was habituated to the
question and the reply, all appeared to sink into the arms
of sleep, as if in the dwelling of a good citizen.

And yet it was possible to hear from the side of the house
occupied by the young king the music of the banquet, and to
see the windows of the great hall richly illuminated.

Ten minutes after his installation in his apartment, Louis
XIV. had been able to learn, by movement much more
distinguished than marked his own leaving, the departure of
the cardinal, who, in his turn, sought his bedroom,
accompanied by a large escort of ladies and gentlemen.

Besides, to perceive this movement, he had nothing to do but
to look out at his window, the shutters of which had not
been closed.

His eminence crossed the court, conducted by Monsieur, who
himself held a flambeau, then followed the queen-mother, to