On the morrow I attended the levee, and I applied to His Majesty
for leave to absent myself. But upon hearing that it was into
Languedoc I went, he frowned inquiry. Trouble enough was his
brother already making in that province. I explained that I went
to seek a wife, and deeming all subterfuge dangerous, since it might
only serve to provoke him when later he came to learn the lady's
name, I told him - withholding yet all mention of the wager - that
I fostered the hope of making Mademoiselle de Lavedan my marquise.

Deeper came the line between his brows at that, and blacker grew
the scowl. He was not wont to bestow on me such looks as I now
met in his weary eyes, for Louis XIII had much affection for me.

"You know this lady?" he demanded sharply.

"Only by name, Your Majesty."

At that his brows went up in astonishment.

"Only by name? And you would wed her? But, Marcel, my friend, you
are a rich man one of the richest in France. You cannot be a
fortune hunter."

"Sire," I answered, "Fame sings loudly the praises of this lady,
her beauty and her virtue - praises that lead me to opine she would
make me an excellent chatelaine. I am come to an age when it is
well to wed; indeed, Your Majesty has often told me so. And it
seems to me that all France does not hold a lady more desirable.
Heaven send she will agree to my suit!"