“Come in, and shut the door,” said the king. The duke obeyed; and, perceiving in what an excellent humor the king was, he advanced, smiling, towards him. “Well, my dear duke, how do you get on with your Frenchman?”
“Sire, I am in the most perfect state of utter despair about him.”
“Why so?”
“Because charming Miss Grafton is willing to marry him, but he is unwilling.”
“Why, he is a perfect Boeotian!” cried Miss Stewart. “Let him say either ‘Yes,’ or No,’ and let the affair end.”
“But,” said Buckingham, seriously, “you know, or you ought to know, madame, that M. de Bragelonne is in love in another direction.”
“In that case,” said the king, coming to Miss Stewart’s help, “nothing is easier; let him say ‘No,’ then.”
“Very true; and I have proved to him he was wrong not to say ‘Yes.’”
“You told him candidly, I suppose, that La Valliere was deceiving him?”
“Yes, without the slightest reserve; and, as soon as I had done so, he gave a start, as if he were going to clear the Channel at a bound.”