# Fontainebleau at Two O'Clock in the Morning explained — The Vicomte de Bragelonne

> Chapter companion for The Vicomte de Bragelonne by Alexandre Dumas.

## What happens

Saint-Aignan, having left the king's apartment, searches for de Guiche to gather information about La Vallière. He finds de Guiche in a moonlit garden, lost in thought. Saint-Aignan attempts to question him about Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente, but de Guiche deflects, claiming no involvement. After their conversation, Saint-Aignan, alone, overhears whispers from the trees—a woman on a ladder speaking with a man in a chestnut tree.

## Themes in this chapter

### Court Intrigue and Deception

Saint-Aignan's elaborate plans to manipulate information about La Vallière and de Guiche exemplify the deceptive nature of court life.

### Friendship and Betrayal

Saint-Aignan's calculated approach to de Guiche, using feigned friendship to extract information, underscores themes of betrayal.

## Character check-ins

### De Guiche

Found by Saint-Aignan standing motionless in the garden, gazing at Madame's window; deflected questions about Tonnay-Charente.

### Louis XIV

Mentioned as having just received Fouquet; Saint-Aignan acts on his behalf.

### Nicolas Fouquet

Entered the king's apartment as Saint-Aignan left.

### Louise de La Vallière

Subject of Saint-Aignan's scheming; he seeks information about her from de Guiche.

### Henrietta of England

Madame; her window is the focus of de Guiche's attention.

### Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente

Mentioned by Saint-Aignan as a supposed interest of de Guiche, which de Guiche denies.

## Key lines

> Saint-Aignan had quitted the king’s apartment at the very moment the superintendent entered it.

Saint-Aignan left the king's room just as Fouquet arrived.

_Sets the scene for Saint-Aignan's subsequent actions._

> He was one of those valuable courtiers whose vigilance and acuteness of perception threw all other favorites into the shade.

Saint-Aignan was a courtier whose sharpness and watchfulness surpassed other favorites.

_Describes Saint-Aignan's character and skill at court._

> De Guiche had, after his conversation with Madame, carried away such a weight of happiness, that all his strength of mind was hardly sufficient to enable him to support it.

De Guiche was overwhelmed with happiness after speaking with Madame.

_Reveals de Guiche's emotional state and his attachment to Madame._

> Saint-Aignan's plan was as follows: If the information obtained was satisfactory, he would inform the king, with alacrity, that he had lighted upon a pearl, and claim the privilege of setting the pearl in question in the royal crown.

Saint-Aignan planned to tell the king if the information about La Vallière was good, presenting her as a treasure.

_Outlines Saint-Aignan's opportunistic strategy._

> It was with such ideas as these, which the fire of covetousness had caused to dawn in half an hour, that Saint-Aignan, the son of earth, as La Fontaine would have said, determined to get de Guiche into conversation.

Driven by greed, Saint-Aignan decided to engage de Guiche in conversation.

_Highlights Saint-Aignan's mercenary motives._

> For de Guiche it was the dawn of unutterable happiness; he would have bestowed a treasure upon a beggar, had one stood before him, to secure him uninterrupted indulgence in his dreams.

De Guiche was so happy he would have given anything to remain undisturbed in his reverie.

_Emphasizes de Guiche's blissful state._

> Saint-Aignan, alone, took the path which led towards these buildings; de Guiche going off in the opposite direction.

Saint-Aignan walked toward the servants' quarters while de Guiche went the other way.

_Shows the characters separating after their conversation._

> He heard whispers, the complaining tones of a woman’s voice mingled with entreaties, smothered laughter, sighs, and half-stilted exclamations of surprise; but above them all, the woman’s voice prevailed.

Saint-Aignan heard a woman's voice among whispers, laughter, and sighs, dominating the sounds.

_Describes the mysterious encounter Saint-Aignan stumbles upon._

> He raised his head, and observed at the top of the wall a woman perched upon a ladder, in eager conversation with a man seated on a branch of a chestnut-tree.

He looked up and saw a woman on a ladder talking to a man sitting on a chestnut tree branch.

_Reveals the clandestine meeting Saint-Aignan witnesses._

## Links

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