“But,” said Madame de Lamballe, “it is very strange that the police should have been so deceived, and have affirmed that they saw the queen in the inner room.”
“It is strange,” said the queen; “and M. de Crosne is an honest man, and would not willingly injure me; but his agents may have been bought. I have enemies, dear Lamballe. Still there must have been some foundation for this tale. This infamous libel represents me as intoxicated, and overcome to such a degree by the magnetic fluid, that I lost all control over myself, and all womanly reserve. Did any such scene take place, Madame la Comtesse? Was there any one who behaved like this?”
Jeanne colored; the secret once told, she lost all the fatal influence which she could now exercise over the queen’s destiny; therefore she again resolved to keep silent on this point.
“Madame,” said she, “there was a woman much agitated who attracted great attention by her contortions and cries.”
“Probably some actress or loose character.”
“Possibly, madame.”
“Countess, you replied very well to the king, and I will not forget you. How have you advanced in your own affairs?”
At this moment Madame de Misery came in, to say that Mademoiselle de Taverney wished to know if her majesty would receive her.
“Assuredly,” said the queen. “How ceremonious you always are, Andrée; why do you stand so much upon etiquette?”
“Your majesty is too good to me.”