"Sire: The happiness I feel at seeing your majesty's acceptance of my offer to present the Countess Dubarry at court——"
The pen stuck and spluttered.
"A bad pen; you should change it!"
"Never mind; it must be broken in."
"—emboldens me (the letter proceeded) to solicit your majesty's favorable eye when I appear at Versailles to-morrow under permission. I venture to hope for a kind welcome from my kinship to a house of which every head has shed his blood in the service of your august ancestors. Anastasie Euphramie Rodolphe, Countess of Bearn."
In return, the plotter handed over the notes and the order on her jewelry.
"Will you let me send my brother for you at three o'clock with the
coach?"
"Just so."
"Mind you take care of yourself."