"Oh! you knew it; well, my people told me, before my return, of an enemy's army whose muskets shone on the road."
"An enemy's army on the road to Vincennes?"
"Yes, mother."
"And where?"
"In front of the Jacobins, near the house of our good cousin."
"Near Madame de Montpensier's?"
"Precisely so, near Bel-Esbat. I approached, bravely to give battle, and I perceived—"
"What, sire?" cried the queen, in alarm.
"Reassure yourself, madame, I perceived an entire priory of good monks, who presented arms to me with acclamations."
Every one laughed, and the king continued: