"Did you see nobody concealed while you were there?"

"Madame!"

"I saw a man's hat, I tell you - the hat of that fellow, that good-for-
nothing!"

"Madame!" repeated Louise.

"Of that do-nothing Malicorne! A maid of honor to have such company -
fie! fie!" and their voices were lost in the depths of the narrow
staircase.

Montalais had not missed a word of this conversation, which echo conveyed
to her as if through a tunnel. She shrugged her shoulders on seeing
Raoul, who had listened likewise, issue from the closet.

"Poor Montalais!" said she, "the victim of friendship! Poor Malicorne,
the victim of love!"

She stopped on viewing the tragic-comic face of Raoul, who was vexed at
having, in one day, surprised so many secrets.

"Oh, mademoiselle!" said he; "how can we repay your kindness?"

"Oh, we will balance accounts some day," said she. "For the present,
begone, M. de Bragelonne, for Madame de Saint-Remy is not over indulgent;
and any indiscretion on her part might bring hither a domiciliary visit,
which would be disagreeable to all parties."