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Raoul resolved not to quit the room without having spoken to the beautiful girl with the soft eyes； who by a strange fancy； although she bore no resemblance； reminded him of his poor little Louise； whom he had left in the Chateau de la Valliere and whom； in the midst of all the party； he had never for one moment quite forgotten。 Meantime Aramis had drawn near to the coadjutor； who； smiling all the while； contrived to drop some words into his ear。 Aramis； notwithstanding his self…control； could not refrain from a slight movement of surprise。
〃Laugh； then；〃 said Monsieur de Retz； 〃they are looking at us。〃 And leaving Aramis he went to talk with Madame de Chevreuse； who was in the midst of a large group。
Aramis affected a laugh； to divert the attention of certain curious listeners； and perceiving that Athos had betaken himself to the embrasure of a window and remained there； he proceeded to join him； throwing out a few words carelessly as he moved through the room。
As soon as the two friends met they began a conversation which was emphasized by frequent gesticulation。
Raoul then approached them as Athos had directed him to do。
〃'Tis a rondeau by Monsieur Voiture that monsieur l'abbe is repeating to me。〃 said Athos in a loud voice； 〃and I confess I think it inparable。〃
Raoul stayed only a few minutes near them and then mingled with the group round Madame de Chevreuse。
〃Well； then？〃 asked Athos； in a low tone。
〃It is to be to…morrow；〃 said Aramis hastily。
〃At what time？〃
〃Six o'clock。〃
〃Where？〃
〃At Saint Mande。〃
〃Who told you？〃
〃The Count de Rochefort。〃
Some one drew near。
〃And then philosophic ideas are wholly wanting in Voiture's works； but I am of the same opinion as the coadjutor he is a poet； a true poet。〃 Aramis spoke so as to be heard by everybody。
〃And I； too；〃 murmured the young lady with the velvet eyes。 〃I have the misfortune also to admire his poetry exceedingly。〃
〃Monsieur Scarron； do me the honor；〃 said Raoul； blushing； 〃to tell me the name of that young lady whose opinion seems so different from that of others of the pany。〃
〃Ah！ my young vite；〃 replied Scarron； 〃I suppose you wish to propose to her an alliance offensive and defensive。〃
Raoul blushed again。
〃You asked the name of that young lady。 She is called the fair Indian。〃
〃Excuse me； sir；〃 returned Raoul； blushing still more deeply； 〃I know no more than I did before。 Alas！ I am from the country。〃
〃Which means that you know very little about the nonsense which here flows down our streets。 So much the better； young man！ so much the better！ Don't try to understand it you will only lose your time。〃
〃You forgive me； then； sir；〃 said Raoul； 〃and you will deign to tell me who is the person that you call the young Indian？〃
〃Certainly； one of the most charming persons that lives Mademoiselle Frances d'Aubigne。〃
〃Does she belong to the family of the celebrated Agrippa； the friend of Henry IV。？〃
〃His granddaughter。 She es from Martinique； so I call her the beautiful Indian。〃
Raoul looked surprised and his eyes met those of the young lady； who smiled。
The pany went on speaking of the poet Voiture。
〃Monsieur；〃 said Mademoiselle d'Aubigne to Scarron； as if she wished to join in the conversation he was engaged in with Raoul； 〃do you not admire Monsieur Voiture's friends？ Listen how they pull him to pieces even whilst they praise him； one takes away from him all claim to good sense； another robs him of his poetry； a third of his originality； another of his humor； another of his independence of character； a sixth but； good heavens！ what will they leave him？ as Mademoiselle de Scudery remarks。〃
Scarron and Raoul laughed。 The fair Indian； astonished at the sensation her observation produced； looked down and resumed her air of naivete。
Athos； still within the inclosure of the window； watched this scene with a smile of disdain on his lips。
〃Tell the te de la Fere to e to me；〃 said Madame de Chevreuse； 〃I want to speak to him。〃
〃And I；〃 said the coadjutor； 〃want it to be thought that I do not speak to him。 I admire； I love him for I know his former adventures but I shall not speak to him until the day after to…morrow。〃
〃And why day after to…morrow？〃 asked Madame de Chevreuse。
〃You will know that to…morrow evening；〃 said the coadjutor； smiling。
〃Really； my dear Gondy；〃 said the duchess； 〃you remind one of the Apocalypse。 Monsieur d'Herblay；〃 she added； turning toward Aramis； 〃will you be my servant once more this evening？〃
〃How can you doubt it？〃 replied Aramis； 〃this evening； to…morrow； always； mand me。〃
〃I will； then。 Go and look for the te de la Fere； I wish to speak with him。〃
Aramis found Athos and brought him。
〃Monsieur le te；〃 said the duchess； giving him a letter； 〃here is what I promised you； our young friend will be extremely well received。〃
〃Madame； he is very happy in owing any obligation to you。〃
〃You have no reason to envy him on that score； for I owe to you the pleasure of knowing him；〃 replied the witty woman； with a smile which recalled Marie Michon to Aramis and to Athos。
As she uttered that bon mot； she arose and asked for her carriage。 Mademoiselle Paulet had already gone； Mademoiselle de Scudery was going。
〃Vite；〃 said Athos to Raoul； 〃follow the duchess； beg her to do you the favor to take your arm in going downstairs； and thank her as you descend。〃
The fair Indian approached Scarron。
〃You are going already？〃 he said。
〃One of the last； as you see； if you hear anything of Monsieur Voiture； be so kind as to send me word to…morrow。〃
〃Oh！〃 said Scarron； 〃he may die now。〃
〃Why？〃 asked the young girl with the velvet eyes。
〃Certainly； his panegyric has been uttered。〃
They parted； laughing； she turning back to gaze at the poor paralytic man with interest； he looking after her with eyes of love。
One by one the several groups broke up。 Scarron seemed not to observe that certain of his guests had talked mysteriously； that letters had passed from hand to hand and that the assembly had seemed to have a sec