It was opened by one of her women.
“The queen?” asked Louis, in a brusque manner.
“Her majesty is asleep, sire.”
The king made a movement, as though to pass in but the woman did not move.
“Do you not see,” he said, “that I wish to come in.”
“But the queen is asleep, sire,” again she said timidly.
“I told you to let me pass,” answered the king, going in as he spoke.
When he reached the door of the bedroom, the king saw Madame de Misery, the first lady-in-waiting, who was sitting reading from her mass book.
She rose on seeing him. “Sire,” she said, in a low voice, and with a profound reverence, “her majesty has not yet called for me.”
“Really?” said the king, in an ironical tone.