air of assumed dignity, yet not without a
shade of uncertainty on his brow, as if he had doubted the King's kind
reception. It was, however, favourable, even beyond the warmest which he had
ever met with at any former interview. Louis termed him his friend, his father
in the sciences - the glass by which a king should look into distant futurity -
and concluded by thrusting on his finger a ring of very considerable; value.
Galeotti, not aware of the circumstances which had thus suddenly raised his
character in the estimation of Louis, yet understood his own profession too well
to let that ignorance be seen. He received with grave modesty the praises of
Louis, which he contended were only due to the nobleness of the science which he
practised, a science the rather the more deserving of admiration on account of
its working miracles through means of so feeble an agent as himself; and he and
the King took leave, for once much satisfied with each other.
    On the astrologer's departure, Louis threw himself into a chair, and
appearing much exhausted, dismissed the rest of his attendants, excepting Oliver
alone, who, creeping around with gentle assiduity and noiseless step, assisted
him in the task of preparing for repose.
    While he received this assistance, the King, unlike to his wont, was so
silent and passive, that his attendant was struck by the unusual change in his
deportment. The worst minds have often something of good principle in them -
banditti show fidelity to their captain, and sometimes a protected and promoted
favourite has felt a gleam of sincere interest in the monarch to whom he owed
his greatness. Oliver le Diable, le Mauvais (or by whatever other name he was
called expressive of his evil propensities), was, nevertheless, scarcely so
completely identified with Satan as not to feel some touch of grateful feeling
for his master in this singular condition, when, as it seemed, his fate was
deeply interested and his strength seemed to be exhausted. After for a short
time rendering to the King in silence the usual services paid by a servant to
his master at the toilette, the attendant was at length tempted to say, with the
freedom which his Sovereign's indulgence had permitted him in such
circumstances, »Tête dieu, Sire, you seem as if you had lost a battle; and yet
I, who was near your Majesty during this whole day, never knew you fight a field
so gallantly.«
    »A field!« said King Louis, looking up, and assuming his wonted causticity
of tone and manner; »Pasques-