The two friends stood sad and irresolute in the anteroom, alarmed at the seclusion and silence of the king.  Suddenly the door leading into the corridor was hastily opened, and a man of commanding and elegant appearance stood upon the threshold; you saw at a glance that he was a cavalier and a courtier, while his glowing cheek, his clear, bright eyes, and jovial smile betrayed the man of pleasure and the epicure.  This remarkable man, in whom every one who looked upon him felt confidence; whose face, in spite of the thousand wrinkles which fifty years of an active, useful life had laid upon it, still retained an innocent, amiable, and childlike expression—­ this man was the Marquis d’Argens, the true, unchangeable, never-faltering friend of the king.  He had consecrated to him his heart, his soul, his whole being; so great was his reverence for his royal master, that the letters received from him were always read standing.  The marquis had just returned from Paris; he entered the anteroom of the king with a gay and happy smile, impatient and eager to see his beloved master.  Without looking around, he hastened to the door which led into the cabinet of the king.  Rothenberg and Algarotti drew near to him, and greeted him joyously, then told him of the strange seclusion of the king.  The countenance of the marquis was troubled, and his eyes filled with tears.

“We must not allow this,” he said decidedly; “I will kneel before the door, and pray and plead till the noble heart of the king is reached, and he will have pity with our anxiety.  Go, Fredersdorf, and announce me to his majesty.”

“Sire,” said Fredersdorf, knocking on the door, “sire, the Marquis d’Argens is here and begs for admittance.”

No answer was given.

“Oh, sire,” said the marquis, “be merciful; have consideration for my eagerness to see you after so long an absence; I have travelled day and night in order to enjoy that happiness a few hours sooner.  I wish to warm and solace myself in the sunshine of your glance; be gracious, and allow me to enter.”

A breathless silence followed this earnest entreaty.  At last the door was shaken, a bolt was drawn back, and the king appeared on the threshold.  He was pale, but of that clear and transparent pallor which has nothing in common with the sallow hue of physical weakness; there was no trace of nervous excitement.  Smiling, and with calm dignity, he approached his friends.

“Welcome, marquis, most welcome! may joy and happiness crown your return!  No doubt you have much to relate to us of your wild and impudent countrymen, and I see that Rothenberg and Algarotti are burning with curiosity to hear an account of your love adventures and rendezvous with your new-baked and glowing duchesses and princesses.”

“Ah, your majesty, he approached me with the proud mien of a conqueror,” said Rothenberg, gladly entering into the jesting humor of the king.  “We are more than ready to believe in the triumphs of the marquis at the court of Louis the Fifteenth.”