Then, turning to Madame de Guéran, I added—
"I must apologise for having consulted our friends first, but when your safety is in question we have a right, as you well know, seeing that you have given us that right, to take counsel amongst ourselves alone. But you agree with us, do you not?"
"Absolutely," replied the Baroness, in her calm, sweet voice. "I have no idea if the tête-à-tête asked for would be dangerous, or if I should run any risk in this palace. But, on the one hand, this demand is calculated to lower your status, and, on the other, if we yield to this first whim, we shall soon have to face others far more serious. These savages are very like children; comply with their first demands, and you convert them into despots."
"What must we do, then?" I asked, still addressing Madame de Guéran.
"Withdraw, and give up all idea of the audience, in which, moreover, I feel assured that we should not have learnt a single thing we want to know."
"That is precisely my idea," said I.
"And mine, too," chimed in Delange.
De Morin, alone, did not speak, evidently regretting that he was not allowed to shoot the King like a dog.
We were going, therefore, to turn to the right-about, when Miss Beatrice, who dearly loved to have the last word, stopped us and begged us to hear what she had to say.