Tournon, and concealed it from me with as much care as from the
rest of the world; I had not the least suspicion of it. Madam de
Tournon as yet appeared inconsolable for the death of her
husband, and lived in retirement with great austerity.
Sancerre's sister was in a manner the only person she saw, and it
was at her lodgings he became in love with her.

"One evening there was to be play at the Louvre, and the actors
only waited for the coming of the King and Madam de Valentinois,
when word was brought that she was indisposed, and that the King
would not come. It was easy to see that the Duchess's
indisposition was nothing but some quarrel with the King;
everyone knew the jealousy he had had of the Mareschal de Brisac
during his continuance at Court, but he had been set out some
days on his return to Piemont, and one could not imagine what was
the occasion of this falling out.

"While I was speaking of this to Sancerre, Monsieur d'Anville
came into the room, and told me in a whisper, that the King was
so exasperated and so afflicted at the same time, that one would
pity him; that upon a late reconciliation between him and the
Duchess, after the quarrel they had had about the Mareschal de
Brisac, he had given her a ring, and desired her to wear it; and
that as she was dressing herself to come to the play, he had
missed it on her finger, and asked what was become of it; upon
which she seemed in surprise that she had it not, and called to
her women for it, who unfortunately, or for want of being better
instructed, made answer they had not seen it four or five days.

"It was," continued Monsieur d'Anville, "precisely so long,