"What a pity! for in that case, here is a lady of ancient lineage, and regal. She would win her lawsuit, her son could have a lieutenancy in the household troops, and as Lady Bearn must have gone to much outlay in her trips to Paris, she would have compensation out of the privy purse. Such luck does not rain down twice in a lifetime."
"Alas! no," said Lady Bearn, crushed in her chair by all things being against her.
"An idea strikes me," said Jean. "All has been kept quiet, and so the king does not know that we have a lady patroness to present my sister. Suppose you were at Versailles and expressed your willingness to act as social sponsor for my sister. Why, the king would accept one who is his relative, and that would prevent the Alognys complaining. The king could do no wrong."
"The king would do right about the suit," said Jeanne. "He would be delighted and he would be sure to say to Chancellor Maupeou:
'I want you to treat Lady Bearn properly, my lord!'"
"But this may look bad, when everybody thinks my case lost," objected the old countess.
"Well, let it be lost," returned the other lady quickly: "What matter, if you are compensated?"
"Two hundred thousand livres?" said the other with sorrow.
"Pooh, what if there be a royal present of a hundred thousand livres?"
"I have a son," remarked the victim, while the two eyed her greedily.