"Here it is, madame," he said.
"Thanks, Réné," returned the queen; then, after a moment's silence: "Do not give Madame de Sauve that paste for a week or ten days; I wish to make the first trial of it myself."
And she prepared to go.
"Your majesty, do you desire me to accompany you?" asked Réné.
"Only to the end of the bridge," replied Catharine; "my gentlemen and my litter wait for me there."
They left the house, and at the end of the Rue de la Barillerie four gentlemen on horseback and a plain litter were waiting.
On his return Réné's first care was to count his boxes of opiates. One was wanting.