“Your majesty, the doorkeeper says so.”
“I will receive her; bring her to the bath-room.”
The man told Jeanne what he had done. She drew out her purse; but he said, “Will Madame la Comtesse allow this debt to accumulate? Some day she can pay me with interest.”
“You are right, my friend; I thank you.”
Marie Antoinette looked serious when Jeanne entered.
“She supposes I am come again to beg,” thought Jeanne.
“Madame,” said the queen, “I have not yet had an opportunity to speak to the king.”
“Oh, your majesty has already done too much for me; I ask nothing more. I came——” she hesitated.
“Is it something urgent, that you did not wait to ask for an audience?”
“Urgent! Yes, madame; but not for myself.”