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again."
    "I cannot confess that."
    "Then you are wrong."
    "In what way?"
    "Because—do you not see this
brevet?
"
    "To be sure I do."
    "Well, I would have got you a similar one."
    "By whose means?"
    "Malicorne's."
    "Aure, are you telling the truth? Is that possible?"
    "Malicorne is there; and what he has done for me, he surely can do for you."
    Malicorne had heard his name pronounced twice; he was delighted at having an opportunity of coming to a conclusion with Madame de Saint–Remy, and he turned round:—
    "What is the question, mademoiselle?"
    "Come hither, Malicorne," said Montalais, with an imperious gesture. Malicorne obeyed.
    "A
brevet
like this," said Montalais.
    "How so?"
    "A
brevet
like this; that is plain enough."
    "But—"
    "I want one—I must have one!"
    "Oh! oh! you must have one!"
    "Yes."
    "It is impossible, is it not, M. Malicorne?" said Louise, with her sweet, soft voice.
    "If it is for
you
, mademoiselle—"
    "For me. Yes, Monsieur Malicorne, it
would
be for me."
    "And if Mademoiselle de Montalais asks it at the same time—"
    "Mademoiselle de Montalais does not ask it, she requires it."
    "Well! we will endeavor to obey you, mademoiselle."
    "And you will have her named?"
    "We will try."
    "No evasive answers, Louise de la Valliere shall be maid of honor to Madame Henrietta within a week."
    "How you talk!"
    "Within a week, or else—"
    "Well! or else?"
    "You may take back your
brevet
, Monsieur Malicorne; I will not leave my friend."
    "Dear Montalais!"
    "That is right. Keep your
brevet
; Mademoiselle de la Valliere shall be a maid of honor."
    "Is that true?"
    "Quite true."
    "I may then hope to go to Paris?"
    "Depend on it."
    "Oh! Monsieur Malicorne, what joy!" cried Louise, clapping her hands, and bounding with pleasure.
    "Little dissembler!" said Montalais, "try again to make me believe you are not in love with Raoul."
    Louise blushed like a rose in June, but instead of replying, she ran and embraced her mother. "Madame," said she, "do you know that M. Malicorne is going to have me appointed maid of honor?"
    "M. Malicorne is a prince in disguise," replied the old lady, "he is all–powerful, seemingly."
    "Should you also like to be a maid of honor?" asked Malicorne of Madame de Saint–Remy. "Whilst I am about it, I might as well get everybody appointed."
    And upon that he went away, leaving the poor lady quite disconcerted.
    "Humph!" murmured Malicorne as he descended the stairs,—"Humph! there goes another note of a thousand livres! but I must get through as well as I can; my friend Manicamp does nothing for nothing."

Chapter IV.
Malicorne and Manicamp.
    The introduction of these two new personages into this history and that mysterious affinity of names and sentiments, merit some attention on the part of both historian and reader. We will then enter into some details concerning Messieurs Malicorne and Manicamp. Malicorne, we know, had made the journey to Orleans in search of the
brevet
destined for Mademoiselle de Montalais, the arrival of which had produced such a strong feeling at the castle of Blois. At that moment, M. de Manicamp was at Orleans. A singular person was this M. de Manicamp; a very intelligent young fellow, always poor, always needy, although he dipped his hand freely into the purse of M. le Comte de Guiche, one of the best furnished purses of the period. M. le Comte de Guiche had had, as the companion of his boyhood, this De Manicamp, a poor gentleman, vassal–born, of the house of Gramont. M. de Manicamp, with his tact and talent had created himself a revenue in the opulent family of the celebrated marechal. From his infancy he had, with calculation beyond his age, lent his mane and complaisance to the follies of the Comte de Guiche. If his noble companion had stolen some fruit destined for Madame la Marechale, if he had broken a mirror, or put out a dog's eye, Manicamp declared himself guilty of the crime committed, and received the punishment, which was not made the milder for