“Sire!”
“I am resolved,” said the king; “and I fancy I hear the queen in her generosity thanking me for having so well understood her heart.”
M. de Calonne bit his lips, and Louis, content with this personal sacrifice, signed all the rest without looking at them.
“Calonne, you shall tell the queen yourself.”
“Oh! sire, I beg to resign to you the honor.”
“So be it then. Ah! here she comes, let us meet her.”
“I beg your majesty to excuse me,” he replied, and retired quickly.
The king approached the queen—she was leaning on the arm of the Comte d’Artois, and seemed very gay.
“Madame,” said the king, “have you had a pleasant walk?”
“Yes, sire. And you an agreeable council?”