emper, often collected before
La Regnie's Palais, crying, "Give us out Olivier Brusson!--he is
innocent!" even throwing stones at the windows, so that La Regnie had
to seek the protection of the Marechaussee.

Many days elapsed without Mademoiselle Scuderi's hearing anything on
the subject of Olivier Brusson. In her disconsolateness she went to
Madame de Maintenon, who said the King was keeping silence on the
subject, and it was not advisable to remind him of it. When she then,
with a peculiar smile, asked after the "little La Valliere,"
Mademoiselle Scuderi saw that this proud lady felt, in the depths of
her heart, some slight annoyance at a matter which had the power of
drawing the mobile King into a province whose charm was beyond her own
sphere. Consequently nothing was to be hoped from Madame de Maintenon.

At length Mademoiselle Scuderi managed to find out, with D'Andilly's
help, that the King had had a long interview with Count Miossens;
further, that Bontems, the King's confidential groom of the chamber and
secret agent, had been to the Conciergerie, and spoken with Brusson;
that, finally, the said Bontems, with several other persons, had paid a
long visit to Cardillac's house. Claude Patru, who lived in the lower
story, said he had heard banging noises above his head in the night,
and that he had recognised Olivier's voice amongst others. So far it
was certain that the King was, himself, causing the matter to be
investigated; but what was puzzling was the long delay in coming to a
decision. La Regnie was most probably trying all in his power to
prevent his prey from slipping through his fingers; and this nipped all
hope in the bud.

Nearly a month had elapsed, when Madame de Maintenon sent to tell
Mademoiselle Scuderi that the King wished to see her that evening in
her salon.

Her heart beat fast. She knew that Olivier's fate would be decided that
night. She told Madelon so, and the latter prayed to the Virgin and all
the Saints that Mademoiselle Scuderi might succeed in convincing the
King of her lover's innocence.

And yet it appeared as if he had forgotten the whole affair, for he
passed the time in chatting pleasantly with Madame de Maintenon and
Mademoiselle Scuderi, without a single word of poor Olivier Brusson. At
length Bontems appeared, approached the King, and spoke a few words so
softly that the ladies could not hear them. Mademoiselle Scuderi
trembled; but the King rose, went up to her, and sa