midday
To-morrow I may be able to answer for him . '' `` And to-day ? What am I to do to-day ? '' I begged him to act as he had done each day since his arrival at Fontainebleau , to hunt in the morning , to take his midday meal at Malesherbes , to talk to all as if he had no suspicion : only on his return to take any road save that which passed the Rock of the Serpents . The King turning to rejoin the others , I found that their attention was no longer directed to us , but to a singular figure which had made its appearance on the skirts of the group , and had already thrown three out of the four courtiers into a fit of laughter . The fourth , M. d'Entragues , did not seem to be equally diverted with the stranger 's appearance ; nor did I fail to notice , being at the moment quick to perceive the slightest point of his conduct , that while the others were nudging one another , his countenance , darkened by an Italian sun , gloomed on the new-comer with an aspect of menace . On his side M. de Boisrosé -- for he it was , the grotesque fashion of his dress more conspicuous than ever -- stood eyeing the group with a mixture of awkwardness and resentment ; until made aware of his Majesty 's approach and of my presence in intimate converse with the King he stepped joyfully forward , a look of relief displacing all others on his countenance .