“It is granted,” said the king. “I promise beforehand my protection to all who may violate discipline in such a cause. You must present this officer to me, M. de Suffren.”
M. de Suffren turned. “Approach, M. de Charny,” he said.
The queen started at the sound of this name, which she had so recently heard. A young officer advanced from the crowd, and presented himself before the king.
The queen and Andrée looked anxiously at each other; but M. de Charny bowed before the king almost without raising his eyes, and, after kissing his hand, retired again, without seeming to have observed the queen.
“Come now, M. de Suffren,” said the king, “and let us converse; I am impatient to hear all your adventures.” But before leaving the room he turned to the queen and said. “Apropos, madame, I am going to have built, as you know, a ship of one hundred guns, and I think of changing the name we had destined for it, and of calling it instead——”
“Oh yes!” cried Marie Antoinette, catching his thought, “we will call it Le Suffren, and I will still stand sponsor.”
“Vive le roi! vive la reine!” cried all.
“And vive M. de Suffren!” added the king, and then left the room with him.
CHAPTER XII.
M. DE CHARNY.
M. de Suffren had requested his nephew to wait his return, and he therefore remained in the group as before.